Keep calm and Harry on

BLANKENHAIN, July 9

Harry Kane’s England teammates have rallied behind him after a string of uninspiring performances at Euro 2024, with Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold praising their captain’s leadership and the threat his presence poses for opponents.

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For the Dutch, it will be a sixth semifinal. They have lost their last four, with one win in 1988

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England have won just one of their last nine meetings with the Netherlands in all competitions

Kane has scored twice in the tournament but has looked out of sorts, lacking pace and short on chances, prompting calls for him to be dropped for tomorrow’s semifinal against Netherlands in Dortmund.

Alexander-Arnold, however, backed Kane and said England’s all-time top scorer could create chances from nothing. “Anyone who is facing England would like to see Harry Kane not playing,” he said. “You just know he is a threat. Anything in and around the box, you need to be on red alert. He can finish it from every angle. I always say he is the best finisher I’ve seen or played with. He can drop down and build play up and his hold-up play is incredible too.”

England’s attacking line has spluttered, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden showing only flashes of their club form and their usual penetrating runs into the box have been lacking. — Reuters