Paul Merson has defended Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka after England captain Harry Kane appeared to criticize his teammates for dropping out of the bottom Nations League squad, with Merson addressing the issue in an interview with Aerial sports.
Rice and Saka were among nine players who withdrew ahead of interim head coach Lee Carsley’s final two matches before Thomas Tuchel took charge.
THE withdrawals included Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Aaron Ramsdale, Levi Colwill and Jarrad Branthwaite, leaving the England team significantly weakened.
Currently second in group B2, Carsley’s side face a crucial match against Greece tonight at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, looking to avenge their surprise defeat in the reverse fixture, before welcoming the Republic of Ireland to Wembley on Sunday.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Kane expressed his frustration, stressing that playing for England should take priority over club commitments. “England comes first,” he said. “It’s the most important thing you play for as a professional footballer.”
Kane also suggested some players may have exaggerated their minor injuries to skip the international break, calling it a “shame”.
The remarks sparked debate among supporters, with some accusing the Bayern Munich striker of unfairly questioning his teammates’ commitment.
Merson sympathized with players like Rice and Saka, pointing to genuine fitness issues as key factors, noting that Rice was out of shape, that Saka had to be substituted in a vital match for Arsenal and that Palmer was visibly limping , which highlighted the circumstances of the withdrawals. .
The former England international acknowledged Kane’s frustrations but stressed the importance of focusing on the task at hand. “It’s a great match. England must win to get back to competing with the best nations,” he said.
Merson also questioned the Football Association’s decision to let Carsley oversee team selection, despite confirming Tuchel’s appointment a month ago. “Tuchel should have his say. It feels like a wasted opportunity,” he added.
Reflecting on his playing career, Merson reiterated that representing his country is the pinnacle of football. “You play for your club for the chance to represent your country. That’s what it’s about,” he said.
As England prepare to face Greece, Merson has urged the team to focus on redemption. “If I were one of the players, I would want to set the record straight after the embarrassing defeat last time,” he concluded.
