Kane Says Rice Sent Voice Note Over England Absence

Harry Kane has opened up on England’s spate of World Cup squad withdrawals, revealing that Declan Rice personally explained his decision to sit out the current Nations League fixtures. Thomas Tuchel’s first squad since the tournament is missing five key players, including Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento, with Everton’s James Garner and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White drafted in as replacements.

Kane Backs Absent Teammates

Unlike his pointed criticism of drop-outs during Lee Carsley’s interim reign in 2024, Kane struck a more understanding tone this time. He said Rice sent him a message explaining his situation, adding that he trusts his teammates given the demanding Premier League schedule they’ve faced. Kane insisted the squad’s togetherness wouldn’t be undermined by absences, framing it instead as a chance for other players to impress the manager. At 33, Kane is closing in on Peter Shilton’s England caps record and remains a Ballon d’Or contender.

Lingering World Cup Pain

Kane also addressed the emotional toll of England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, describing it as more painful than his missed penalty against France in Qatar. He felt the team abandoned its usual style during the match, retreating defensively after taking an early lead — a pattern that has repeated against stronger nations in major tournaments. Kane said the squad and coaching staff still need to unpack what went wrong. With Tuchel now focused on translating training form into matches, attention turns to Saturday’s clash against world champions Spain, as England begins building toward the 2028 European Championships.