‘Not right’ – Harry Kane fumes with England fans who booed Harry Maguire and says he has ‘full support of dressing room’
HARRY KANE is the latest England star to slam fans who booed Harry Maguire before and during the friendly win over the Ivory Coast.
The defender’s name was booed as it was announced before the game.
And his first touches during the 3-0 win at Wembley were also met by jeers.
Maguire, 28, has endured a difficult season at club level for Manchester United and has received plenty of criticism for his performances.
Now captain Kane has followed team-mates Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice in blasting sections of home support who lambasted the centre-half.
The Tottenham striker tweeted: “We’ve worked hard to rebuild our connection with @England fans in the last few years so to hear @HarryMaguire93 booed at Wembley before kick off was just not right.
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“The fact that he’s been brilliant on the pitch and given us all so many great memories makes it even harder to understand.
“He doesn’t deserve that reception. He’s got full support in the changing room and should have the same from every England fan.”
Maguire put in some sterling performances during Euro 2020 for the Three Lions that helped Gareth Southgate’s side to the final – only to lose to Italy on penalties.
The former Sheffield United and Hull man was named in the Team of the Tournament.
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Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson came to his international team-mate’s defence too – blasting the Wembley boo boys.
He wrote: “I can’t get my head around what happened at Wembley tonight.
“Harry Maguire has been a colossus for England. Without him, the progress made at the last two tournaments would not have been possible.
“To be booed at his home stadium, for no reason? What have we become? What happened tonight was just wrong.
“As someone who wants to win with England I feel fortunate to share a dressing room with him. We all feel the same!”
I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke
England boss Gareth Southgate
Southgate, 51, blasted Maguire’s treatment as a “joke” during the victory, with goals scored by Ollie Watkins, Raheem Sterling and Tyrone Mings.
He said: “I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke. The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal. I don’t get it. We’re either all in this together or we’re not.
“He’s in an England shirt and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when you’ve played at the level he has for us and put the performances in he has, it should be total commitment behind him.
“I don’t get it at all. His performance was pretty faultless really.
“He stepped out from the back really well for his first goal, was involved in the second one too. So, yeah. The team are totally united.”
West Ham star Rice retweeted Southgate’s damning interview, writing: “Total embarrassment from whoever boo’d tonight.
“@HarryMaguire93 has been incredible every single time he’s put on the England shirt.
“Absolute nonsense now it’s becoming. Back your own players. Especially with a major tournament coming up.”
Jack Grealish added: “He has been brilliant and it is ridiculous for him to get booed. It is not something the team likes.”
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Maguire has since broken his silence on the unsavoury Wembley incident, making no reference to it in a tweet this morning.
Accompanied by a picture of him playing last night, he wrote on Twitter: “Enjoyable week playing for my country ”