Dietmar Hamann criticizes Harry Kane: “The game is passing him by”

interview

Call Dietmar Hamann50, long-time defender for Liverpool FC and Manchester City. Hamann is currently filming in London. A film is being made to mark the 20th anniversary of Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2005; a commemoration of that legendary game that Liverpool turned around after being 3-0 down against Milan and won on penalties. Hamann scored a goal. He is still a well-known man on the island today – and in neighboring Ireland. He has commentated on numerous European Championship games for the broadcaster RTÉ One, “the Irish ARD,” as Hamann says.

Mr Hamann, with a view to Sunday: Spain or England?
If you had asked me a few days ago, my answer would have been: Spain will be European champions, no doubt about it. But now, after England’s victory against the Netherlands, I’m starting to think. The way they turned the game around just before the end was impressive.

It wasn’t pretty to look at.
The English defensive performance is underrated. I think it gets too little attention in all the comments. Their game is not particularly aesthetically pleasing – OK. But it is successful. They are now in a European Championship final for the second time in a row, while defending champions Italy were eliminated in the round of 16. That deserves respect.

You are currently in London. What is your perception: Does coach Gareth Southgate this respect?
Southgate is viewed critically and attacked harshly by the media. What he needs is a title. Something tangible. Reaching the 2021 European Championship final is not seen as a success in England. Quite the opposite. They lost the title to Italy on penalties – in their own living room, at Wembley. No, 2021 is a wound. But it could be healed with a win against Spain.

Southgate was already coach of the English national team at the 2021 European Championship. How has he changed since then?
Southgate is doing his thing. He has shown tremendous resilience, considering the strong opposition he is facing at home. The two substitutions against Holland alone, ten minutes before the end: Kane and Foden out, Palmer and Watkins in. You have to have the courage to take off the captain and the most important midfielder – at a time when the game is on a knife edge. It went well, Watkins scored the winning goal in the 91st minute. It was still a steep gamble.

England’s art is to make other teams look bad.

Harry Kane has been lackluster so far. Do you think that’s due to the game system or to him personally?
Kane seems to be going at too high a pace at this European Championship for him. The game often rushes past him. He scored a penalty against the Netherlands, but didn’t really get much out of the game.

How could the English beat Spain? Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team appears to be overwhelming, as it is the only team in the tournament to have won all of its games so far.
I don’t think the English have no chance. Their skill is to make other teams look bad. England is a defensive machine, aggressive and destructive. You can’t play a good game against them. I’m excited to see what plan Spain will go into battle with.

What would be your plan?
Stick to the possession game and accept the toughness of the game, like in the quarter-final against Germany. Spain has players who can do both: build and destroy. Look at Rodri. For me, the best number six in the world. He is a strategist like Toni Kroos, trained by Pep Guardiola at City, but he can also throw in the punches that make things crack. You rarely find that combination. For me, it is always a gift to be able to watch him. Rodri will be the deciding factor on Sunday. He can make the difference.

Germany lost to Rodri’s Spain in the quarter-finals. Where do you place the DFB team? One level below Spain?
In any case, our national team is not as great as everyone is saying. In terms of atmosphere, the European Championships were a huge success, that’s for sure. But in terms of sport? Grade 3, satisfactory.

Toni Kroos has not always been the shining light that he has recently been celebrated as.

What are you up to?
There is a lot of criticism of the English and French because they supposedly play such cynical football. But both teams made it to the semi-finals. They are ruthless and I missed that cold-bloodedness in our game.

Toni Kroos, one of Germany’s most experienced players, has now retired. How can we fill the gap he leaves behind?
Toni did a good job at the European Championships, but I don’t think the German game will collapse if he’s no longer there. We must not forget: Kroos was also on the pitch at the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 European Championships, which were huge disappointments. He has not always been the shining light he has recently been celebrated as. Kroos’ place could perhaps be taken by Aleksandar Pavlovic. (FC Bayern, editor’s note) grow into it or even an Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart)But both are young and both need time. Fortunately, the next tournament is not until 2026, so there is still plenty of room for them to mature.