Harry Kane 'called players-only England crisis meeting' after Denmark draw

Harry Kane called England's squad together for a crisis meeting in the wake of Thursday's disappointing 1-1 draw against Denmark, according to reports.

England's pre-tournament status as favourites was given a sharp dose of reality at the Frankfurt Arena as Kane's goal was cancelled out in a testing stalemate against Denmark.

The Three Lions skipper expected his team to build on his early goal - Kane's first at the competition -  but instead watched as Gareth Southgate's side crumbled against Denmark's attack.

Kane is one of several members of a new-look leadership group handpicked by manager Gareth Southgate and demanded a meeting with his players after their second Group C clash, as reported by The Sun.

The 30-year-old was keen to address issues that have cropped up in the England camp and wanted to give players a chance to air their frustrations in a safe setting.

None of England's coaching team were invited to the talk with only players being allowed to partake in the conversation that was held at the team's headquarters in Germany.

Players were given the chance to speak on performances, positions they wanted to play and air differences as Kane sought to rekindle unity within the team after a difficult start at Euro 2024.

Kane also used the discussion as an opportunity to remind England's stars of their quality and issue a rallying call in the wake of recent criticism.

England's record goalscorer takes pride in wearing the Three Lions armband but is without several key leaders that have previously been by his side at major competitions.

Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson are notable omissions after being left out of the final squad by Gareth Southgate, while Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are other notable omissions.

Kyle Walker was a recent addition into England’s leadership group - despite the controversy regarding his private life - and offers  a source of comfort for Southgate.

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are already emerging as natural leaders in midfield but are both learning their roles while on the job.

England can top their group and qualify for the knockout stages of the competition when they play Slovenia on Tuesday.