Match of the Day's Gary Lineker 'backtracks' on England star to fire angry BBC verdict

Gary Lineker has 'backtracked' on his thoughts on a certain England star, ranting that they 'need to do better' after the dire 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday evening, just days after speaking out in defence of the same player.

After their narrow win against Serbia in their opening group game on June 16, the Three Lions had the chance to qualify in top position after just two matches, thanks to a 1-1 draw between Serbia and Slovakia in the day's first fixture. However, while they took the lead through captain Harry Kane within the first 20 minutes, England lost their 1-0 advantage before half time as Denmark levelled.

And the dull and drab second half performance from Gareth Southgate's side gave plenty of cause for concern, after high hopes from supporters that they'd avenge their crushing defeat on penalties in the Euros final three years ago. There was very little to be positive about and, even at half time, and it was Kane who BBC presenter Gary singled out for criticism as he and his Match of the Day gave an annoyed debrief.

READ MORE: Match of the Day's Gary Lineker ends show for 'subtle' BBC tribute to late star

Get all the latest TV and showbiz news and gossip from Chronicle Live with our free new

Speaking to his fellow pundts, he remarked: "Can I offer a theory? If you want to press, it has to come from your centre forward. Harry does not press and he has not pressed in that first half. He’s barely moved. Then the team goes deeper and Harry Kane goes even deeper and even when you get the ball you have nothing to hit. I just don’t understand.”

Taking the same stance as Gary, colleague and ex England centre back, Rio Ferdinand, blasted: "I would be going mad. I’d be screaming at him. I couldn’t have my centre forward not filling in with the workload the other players are putting. I need to see that intensity. Put their centre halves under pressure as I’m feeling as an England defender"

Gary was even more scathing about Kane at full time, complaining: "In all honesty, I think Harry Kane needs to do a lot better. I think his movement was minimal, he didn’t look to go behind and he doesn’t often, but even when he comes short, he’s just drifting short very lethargically, he’s plodding short and that’s not going to help.

“When you’re a striker, your two jobs are obviously score goals, which he’s brilliant at and has been all his career and he’s wonderful at that sort of thing.

Just a few days earlier, as fans online started to 'turn' on Kane, Gary spoke out in his support, commenting: "He is playing his part, he's not dropping deep like we've seen from him in the past, he's keeping Serbia deep to make that space for the creative players behind him. He won't care about general touches, just those he can make to put the ball in the back of the net."