Gary Lineker says journalists were “stirring the pot” after Harry Kane was asked about being on the end of criticism from former England players. Lineker and his fellow former England captain Alan Shearer have been critical of Kane and the team’s overall performance after they laboured to a 1-1 draw against Denmark in their second Euro 2024 group game. Lineker described England’s display as “shit” on his podcast, having said that Kane “needs to do a lot better”. Kane hit back during a press conference on Sunday, saying former players have a responsibility to keep their opinions in check because they have been part of England’s long trophy drought. Lineker carried on the back-and-forth during the latest episode of the Rest is Football podcast, suggesting journalists were too scared to ask their own questions. “Made the headlines again, haven’t I? Because journalists being journalists, being a bit tricky in these things and trying to wind up our footballers,” he said. “We’ve been critical of England’s performances, as has pretty much every journalist, but you know how it happens. We’ve talked about this a few times before, about journalists not being brave enough to ask their own questions. “I guarantee whoever that was was probably critical themselves. They do it a) to stir the pot and b) because they’re too scared to ask a question from their own selves. It puts Harry on the spot. I thought he answered it fine. There was one bit there where he says that we have responsibilities as ex-England players, that we should know better and that we never won anything or words to that effect. “Fine, he’s absolutely right. But I will say one thing. The last thing in the world we want to be is downbeat and critical. We want the England team to perform well on the pitch. The best punditry of all is when England play well.” Shearer also accepts Kane’s retort but believes the captain has the power to have the final say. Shearer said on the podcast: “It’s important we never get personal. That’s the most important thing. They were terrible and we have to say that. If England were brilliant, we’d say they were brilliant – that’s the way it is. “As a player you always get the right of reply on the pitch. I have no problem what we said. I wouldn’t take anything back. England were really poor. I think the vast majority of the country, and even the boys in the squad, will know they were awful against Denmark. There were hardly any positives.”