Captain Harry Kane is unhappy with the number of players who have withdrawn from the latest England squad and insists “England comes before the club.”
Nine players have left the team for Lee Carsley’s final two games as interim manager before Thomas Tuchel takes over in January.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before the club,” Kane told ITV Sport.
“England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] “I was excited about it and wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to deviate from certain players.”
Asked if the desire to play for England had been diverted from this international break, Kane said: “Yes, it’s obviously a shame this week.
“I think it’s a difficult period of the season, maybe I took advantage a little.
“I don’t really like it, if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and Levi Colwill all retired.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite was one of the substitute players called up to the squad, becoming the ninth player to retire.
Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah will be his replacement, having trained with the team for the past two days.
England will likely need to beat Greece in Athens on Thursday and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday if they are to advance to League A of the UEFA Nations League.
