Gary Neville makes Harry Kane World Cup prediction after Argentina semi-final defeat

Gary Neville believes Harry Kane and two other England players have ‘probably’ played in their last World Cup this summer.

The Three Lions were bidding to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years, but came up short after a heartbreaking late defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals.

Anthony Gordon had England on the cusp of victory, but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez saw the defending champions progress to Sunday’s final where they will take on Spain.

England will bring their tournament to a close on Saturday in Miami when they take on France, who were convincingly beaten by Spain in the other semi-final.

And for some players in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, the third-place playoff could be the last time they feature for England at a World Cup.

Seven players in the 26-man squad are aged 30 and above, including Kane, Jordan Pickford and John Stones, who are all 32 and have been the foundation of this England side for several major tournaments.

And former England full-back Neville is not sure whether England fans will see any of those three in the Three Lions’ squad for the next World Cup in 2030.

Discussing England’s collapse against Argentina on Stick to Football with Sky Bet, Neville said: ‘The only thing I would say is, I mean, it’s half an hour’s football, but I remember the penalties in 2006; that was my last half an hour ever in a World Cup.

‘So for Harry Kane, for Jordan Pickford, for Stones, that is your last half an hour probably ever in a World Cup.

‘It is a half an hour, but it’s a half an hour that doesn’t come back very often. It might never come back for the lads. It’s a big half an hour, isn’t it?

‘You think about those moments we had where we were on the edge of getting to semis and finals, and we just couldn’t get over the line, could we?’

Kane, who will turn 33 later this month, is now England’s second most capped player of all time, while he also surpassed Gary Lineker this tournament to become England’s record goalscorer at World Cups.

But speaking after England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, Kane hinted his desire to play in another World Cup in four years’ time.

‘It’s too early to talk about that. I mean, as a person, it’s always just about taking it year by year and how I feel,’ Kane explained.

‘The national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do most, more than anything.

‘Obviously, four years is a long way away. I’m 33 in the summer, but as you saw on the other end with Messi there, he’s still performing at the highest level.

‘So, I never want to put a limit on these things. I’ll address every situation as they come, but for now it’s just about processing another tough loss with this team.’

Elsewhere, Neville took aim at Tuchel’s post-match comments in which the German tactician suggested that it was ‘England’s DNA’ rather than his tactics that were the problem in their semi-final defeat.

‘I have a big problem with that,’ Neville said. ‘He didn’t bring Mainoo on, who could handle the ball better than most.

‘He didn’t bring, say, for instance, Saka on who could probably handle the ball better than most. But he also left Foden, Palmer, Wharton, Gibbs-White, and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home, who were technical players.

‘That, to me, wasn’t a quote that sat well with me because I said before the tournament, we all did, he’s left out what would be generational talents like Trent, and Foden, and Palmer, players who’ve got massive talent.’

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