Harry Kane backs England to quieten 'noise' but warns winning Euros won't be 'as easy as people think'

England captain Harry Kane described his side’s shock defeat to Iceland as a "wake-up call" ahead of Euro 2024, seeing it as a reminder that lifting the trophy "isn’t going to be as easy as people think."

Gareth Southgate’s side are among the favourites to lift the trophy in Germany, where the European Championship kicks off on Friday when the hosts face Scotland in Munich.

England’s campaign begins against Serbia on Sunday, but they head to the tournament on a negative note after falling to a 1-0 loss against Iceland at Wembley in their send-off friendly on Friday.

The Three Lions finished as runners-up at the Euros three years ago, suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final, and captain Kane was eager to look for positives after a forgettable night dampened hopes of a first major trophy since 1966.

"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," Kane said.

"We fell below our standards without the ball and that is something we have to review and get better with.

"There probably was not enough hunger in the duels, in the second balls and winning those. You have to be more clinical, sustain the pressure and really suffocate teams.

"I have said many times to judge us on the tournament form, on the tournament football. Of course there will be some noise about Iceland, but I think there is a lot of optimism from the fans and rightly so.

"Ultimately it is down to us to make sure we get it right on the pitch. Being so close in the last Euros, there is a real hunger to be back. It comes around quickly, if I’m honest.

"We had the World Cup and we are back here again. I feel like we are on the right path. But as we all know as well, it is really difficult to win these tournaments.

"There are a lot of things that you have to do right and prepare right, and you need a bit of luck here and there. Every winner does. We have that mindset that we can achieve it. We also know there is a lot of hard work from now until the final in July."

England begin their Group C campaign against Serbia on Sunday before facing Denmark on June 20 - a repeat of the Euro 2020 semi-final – and Slovenia on June 25.

Since the last Euros, Southgate’s side have suffered more major tournament heartbreak at the 2022 World Cup.

Kane scored one penalty and missed another in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France, and the Bayern Munich striker doesn’t look back on the moment fondly.

He said: "Pretty s***, wasn’t it? I think 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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