England captain Harry Kane has voiced his frustration over the high number of withdrawals from the national squad this week, stressing that representing England should always come before club commitments. The team, fresh off their Euro 2024 runner-up finish, faces a must-win Nations League match against Greece on Thursday, followed by a meeting with Ireland at Wembley on Sunday. However, interim manager Lee Carsley’s final squad, ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s appointment, has been hit by eight withdrawals, including notable absentees like Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Cole Palmer.

This has left Kane frustrated, especially since the team needs to win in Athens to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive. In an interview with ITV, Kane reflected on the legacy of former manager Gareth Southgate, emphasizing the joy Southgate instilled in players when representing England. "The joy to play for England... Every camp, people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England," Kane shared. "That’s the most important thing. England comes before anything."

Kane admitted it was "a shame" that so many players had withdrawn, acknowledging the tough timing of the season but reiterating that national team duty should take precedence. "I don’t really like it, if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation," he stated.

Eight players had pulled out from Carsley’s initial 26-man squad, and although Jarrad Branthwaite was called up to replace some absentees, he also did not travel to Greece, with Liverpool's Jarell Quansah stepping in. Despite this, Carsley remained focused on the players who remained available, stating, "The focus all camp has been on the players that are here... it gives others the opportunity to be here, and we’re looking forward to the game."

Carsley, who will return to his role coaching the England Under-21s after these Nations League fixtures, brushed off Kane's concerns, explaining that such withdrawals are common in the November window. "Historically, November has always been a challenging window," Carsley noted. He added that the players present in camp fully deserve their place and are prepared for the upcoming match.

In the face of frustration over the absences, Carsley urged the focus to remain on the players who were present, highlighting the pride for those called up, and reinforcing the importance of concentrating on the current squad rather than those missing.