Gary Neville doesn’t expect Calvert-Lewin to play a lot at the Euros
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin would not be starting ahead of Harry Kane at Euro 2020, according to ITV pundit Gary Neville.
The Tottenham Hotspur hitman was below par in England’s opener against Croatia on Sunday, getting withdrawn for Jude Bellingham in the 82nd minute.
Kane was not able to threaten the Croats’ goal and appeared out of sync with the attack.
Calvert-Lewin came on in the final seconds of the game, but did not get to touch the ball.
Neville does not expect the Toffees star to threaten Kane’s place in Gareth Southgate’s XI, insisting the Spurs star remains the starter.
“There’s not a chance that he would be subbed in a football match for England in this tournament,” Neville said on ITV.
“He’s the best centre-forward in the country by a mile. I like Calvert-Lewin a lot, I think he offers something off the bench, but there’s no way he would start ahead of Harry.
“His influences on the team, his performances, his goal record… even though he was quiet in that first game, he’s mentally untouchable.”
Really?
Neville is right about Kane, but he has to quickly find his rhythm and goalscoring boots to retain his place going forward.
England needs him against Scotland on Friday and against the Czech Republic next week, and should he fail to turn out, Southgate could be forced to call on his Everton rival.
DCL is hungry to prove himself in the Three Lions shirt, and we do not expect Kane to retain his berth if he is not firing on all cylinders.
It is too early to draw any conclusions, though, but the Spurs hitman cannot afford to rest on his laurels with the likes of Calvert-Lewin breathing down his neck.
England need their best XI right now if they want to win the Euros, and there should not be room for sentiment and emotions.
We do not see the sense in keeping anyone struggling in the line-up given what is at stake, and we hope Southgate would not hesitate to make the necessary decisions no matter what.
Everton fans are rooting for DCL, and we are confident that he has what it takes to lead the line for his country.
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