Jermaine Jenas divides opinion with ruthless dismantling of Harry Kane

Harry Kane missed a penalty as England crashed out of the World Cup to France and in a resurfaced interview, Jermaine Jenas criticised the Tottenham star for his performances in big games

Jermaine Jenas criticised Harry Kane in October for not showing up in big games (

Image: Vibe with Five)

Jermaine Jenas has divided opinion by ruthlessly claiming Harry Kane is yet to put in a good performance in a big game for either club or country.

Kane scored a penalty but crucially missed a second as England were sent crashing out of the World Cup by France on Saturday. That defeat means that his wait for a first major trophy will continue, despite widely being considered one of the best strikers in the world.

But Jenas believes that Kane’s career has followed a pattern in which the Tottenham star has failed to show up for the most important games. At the start of October, Jenas had called for Kane to finally turn it on when it matters for either the Three Lions or Spurs.

“My biggest issue for Harry Kane, and he’s going to be a god at Spurs whenever he decides to retire, he’ll go down as one of the greatest players in Premier League history. Finals and big games I think are a problem when it comes to what he’s done in those moments,” he told Vibe with Five.

“If you go over Spurs’ recent history and some of their biggest moments. City away, quarter-final didn’t play, that’s one of their biggest moments Tottenham. Ajax comeback, didn’t feature.

“He was injured in those games and they are historically some of the biggest moments in Spurs’ history, getting to a Champions League final, performed well and scored goals, he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Jermaine Jenas’ criticism of Harry Kane fair? Comment below.

Kane missed a penalty as England crashed out of the World Cup against France (

Image:

Getty Images)

“I’m not saying he shouldn’t be in the team, I’m saying that in these biggest moments, when the final came, injured, didn’t perform. Two League Cup finals, not performed, semi-finals, not performed.

“I’ve not seen him do what he does on a weekly basis in the big games and I think that is always going to be the thing. And the England final, you go to the World Cup where he got the golden boot, didn’t play well.”

Some fans have agreed with Jenas’ assessment of Kane so far, criticising the striker for not doing enough. One fan tweeted: “I think Jenas is cooking here.”

Another added: “So true. Actually something I thought about the other day. Harry Kane has failed to step up in big moments. Could go down as the best player to have never won a major trophy.”

While a third said: “Even players like Dirk Kuyt and Park Ji-sung have bigger ‘big game legacy’ than Harry Kane.” Not everyone has shared Jenas’ opinion though, with some backing Kane’s contributions over his career.

One commented: “Would Spurs and England have been in those big games without his goals to get there?” Another added: “Kane has played in an average Spurs side and average England side. Put in Kane in Man City side for last 8 years and he would have scored loads of goals in finals.”

A third said: “He played well against France, could have had two other goals and scores one pen. The other well is one of the toughest pressure penalties you can have v a bloke you take pens against every day in training. So this feels a tad harsh.”