'Pretty sh*t, wasn't it?'- Harry Kane sends out strong warning to England and says Iceland defeat must serve as 'wake-up call'

Harry Kane admitted England's last tournament exit was "pretty sh*t" as he warned his team-mates to learn from their dismal Iceland defeat.

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• England lost 1-0 in friendly
• Euro 2024 begins this week
• Kane begs countrymen to learn lessons

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  England lost 1-0 to Iceland in their final pre-tournament warm-up for Euro 2024 in a dismal performance that saw the Bayern Munich striker miss a glaring opportunity from close-range. With Euro 2024 beginning this week – Gareth Southgate's side play Serbia on Sunday – Kane has sent a brutal warning to his team-mates.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Bayern striker was at fault in Qatar as England were eliminated by France at the quarter-final stage, as he missed a late penalty that could have forced extra time. He maintains that exit was "pretty sh*t" as he has geed up his team-mates to try to go all the way in Germany.

• WHAT KANE SAID

  Reflecting on England's performance against Iceland, Kane told reporters: "This could be a nice wake-up call for everyone to realise it is not going to be as easy as people think.

  "There is a lot of work to do. Sometimes, you need this wake-up call. There are areas we need to improve, especially with our pressure. The group games are going to be very similar to this. We are going to have to defend well, especially the longer balls, and with the ball we need to be a bit more patient. It is one to look back on.

  "We fell below our standards without the ball and that is something we have to review and get better with. We had spells where we did well and played some really nice football and created some good chances. But against these types of teams especially, you have to be more clinical.

  "There probably wasn’t enough hunger in the duels, in the second balls and winning those. They are a big important part when you are playing these teams, to sustain the pressure and really suffocate them. We didn’t do that well."

  Asked about the quarter-final defeat to Les Bleus he added: "Pretty sh*t, wasn't it? In football you are going to have ups and downs on the way. Of course, that was a down for me at the moment, but I think over two years, for club and for country, I have put that to bed and I am just excited for another major tournament."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  England face Serbia, Slovenia, and Denmark in their Euro 2024 group and Kane will be gunning for another Golden Boot, having won the award at the 2018 World Cup. At major tournaments, he has scored 12 goals in 22 games, stretching back to Euro 2016.