Harry Kane: Should England captain be dropped for Euro 2024 final?

Harry Kane's desire to prove people wrong has been well documented throughout his career.

Initially - and somewhat hilariously in hindsight - written off as a 'one-season wonder' after breaking through at Tottenham Hotspur, the England captain is now renowned as one of his generation's greatest ever goalscorers and has been a key figure in the most successful Three Lions team of modern times.

However, criticism escapes only a handful of players in the current age and Kane is not one of the exceptions. Despite scoring a joint-leading three goals at Euro 2024, his displays for a largely spluttering England side have been questioned and Ollie Watkins' memorable winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final has seen some fans call for a change in Sunday's final against Spain.

So, should manager Gareth Southgate stick with the greatest men's finisher in the country's history or switch gears in an attempt to win England's second piece of major international silverware?

The case for Harry Kane

Whenever England perform badly at international tournaments, fans and the media are quick to create scapegoats. That's how it's been in the past and at Euro 2024, too.

The 30-year-old isn't the only Three Lions star to have his starting role questioned. The debate over Trent Alexander-Arnold's role earlier in the tournament saw the Liverpool star's defensive nous called into question, while Phil Foden looked like a square peg in a round hole playing out wide.

Criticism of Kane has included a suggested lack of good positioning and anticipation from crosses, while his fitness has also been called into question. His penchant for dropping deep hasn't been to everyone's liking, with plenty of supporters keen for the former Spurs star to stay in the final third and finish chances off.

But like it or not, the England captain continues to score when it matters; his efforts at Euro 2024 so far only attest to that.

The Three Lions might have slumped to a worse result in the 1-1 draw with Denmark had Kane not opened the scoring early on, while his winner against Slovakia eventually secured the nation's quarter-final spot after Jude Bellingham broke the internet with his last-gasp overhead kick.

His razor-sharp tournament knowhow was also clear to see against the Netherlands. Kane bought a penalty with an appeal many thought would be swiftly waved away by the video assistant referee and was composed enough to rattle the spot-kick into the bottom corner to equalise after Xavi Simons' stunner. That was his 22nd successful penalty from 26 attempts, showing the ice that runs through his veins when it matters.

He got it wrong in the World Cup quarter-finals against France a little under two years ago, but this Sunday provides Kane with the opportunity to do what he loves most; prove the doubters wrong.

With 66 goals at senior international level, Kane is comfortably clear as England's all-time leading men's goalscorer but is still arguably and somewhat strangely searching for a moment to truly endear himself to his country.

With such a record behind him, Kane should never be written off. He may not be firing on all cylinders right now, but tournament football is a different beast. After a slow start at Euro 2020, his goals in the knockout stage ultimately led England to the final and it has been a similar story this time around.

His appetite, necessary selfishness as a striker and exceptional record mean he's a guaranteed starter against Spain. With the opportunity to write himself a new narrative and dispel the lingering naysayers, Kane will be fired up and it's simply too big a risk to start someone with less-honed finishing abilities when the stakes are so high and the opposition so good.

Why Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney's current roles are perfect

That's not to say back-up options Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are without their strengths.

Watkins' goal-winning cameo against the Dutch was perfect, relentlessly harrying the opposition defenders and proving too quick for Stefan de Vrij when he banged in one of England's most iconic strikes at the Euros.

Toney has also shown his quality in disturbing backlines when called upon and is one of the number of clinical penalty-takers Southgate can turn to if the final goes 120 minutes without a decisive goal.

Their current roles are perfect. Watkins will provide impetus in his pressing if he comes on with England chasing a goal, while Toney will be an uncomfortable presence in the box for the Spanish defence to deal with should he get the nod at any point.

The two Premier League strikers are immense players and would undoubtedly get more minutes if they played for other nations, but both have taken to their squad roles with aplomb. They provide Southgate with genuine points of difference if the manager needs them.

Either Watkins or Toney could end up being England's hero on Sunday, but if a match-winning opportunity were to fall to any player in the squad, most fans would want Kane to be on the end of it and that's why his inclusion in the starting XI is so imperative.

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