bourbiza mohamed
Football is a passionate game with players, managers and fans all getting involved in heated moments of expression and frustration.
It is no more so evident when situations arise when pundits or reporters criticise a team or player’s performance after a tough showing in a game.
BBC pundit Gary Lineker and England striker Harry Kane are the latest pair to lock horns with one another.
Lineker made headlines following England’s opening clash against Serbia, after he branded the Three Lions performance’s ‘s***’. That wasn’t the last of it however, as the England skipper then hit back at a number of former England players now turned pundits.
Lineker and Kane’s Euro 2024 tiff is the latest in a number of memorable arguments between footballers and media members. Here are some others.
Harry Kane is the latest player to respond and get involved in a heated exchange with a pundit
Harry Kane hit back at comments made by ex-England players including Gary Lineker
Lineker made headlines for branding the Three Lions performances in the group stage ‘s***’
Harry Kane vs Gary Lineker
Harry Kane recently hit back at a host of former England internationals who have criticised Gareth Southgate’s men in Germany for Euro 2024.
Gary Lineker was one of many former England players who are doing media for Euro 2024 to disapprove and condemn the performance of England in their 1-1 draw against Denmark.
Other ex-players included were Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand. One to usually shy away from media confrontation, Kane hit back at those former players by underlying the fact that they, like him have never won an international trophy during their playing days.
‘I would never want to be disrespectful to any player, especially a player who has worn the shirt and knows what it is like to play for England,’ Kane said.
‘But what ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment.
‘I always feel like they have a responsibility – I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player.
‘The bottom line is we haven’t won anything as a nation for a long, long time and a lot of these players were part of that as well and they know how tough it is.’
Roy Keane vs Erling Haaland
Never one to shy away from saying what he thinks, Roy Keane made headlines when he described Erling Haaland, who is regarded as one of the best forwards in the world, as a ‘League Two player’ earlier this year.
The former Manchester United player told Sky Sports that ‘the levels of his general play are so poor’.
He added further: ‘Not just today, laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be… in front of goal he is the best in the world but his general play for such a player is so poor.’
The comments didn’t seem to phase the Norwegian striker as he went out and scored four goals against Wolves in his first game straight after the comments were made.
When he was asked about Keane’s comments, Haaland said ‘I don’t really care that much about that man, so that’s all right’.
Roy Keane has been critical of Manchester City and Norwegian forward Erling Haaland
Keane has been critical of Haaland’s general play, likening it to a League Two player
Graeme Souness vs Paul Pogba
Probably one of the most one-sided pundit vs player feuds is between Liverpool legend Graeme Souness and former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
Some of Souness’ most memorable comments directed towards the 2018 World Cup winner include him labelling Pogba as a ‘lazy t***’ and a ‘selfish player’.
He also reminded talkSPORT host Jim White that he was the ‘first person to call out Pogba as a pudding’.
The 71-year-old recently revealed why he has been so critical of the midfielder, going on to tell talkSPORT: ‘He had the equipment to be the best midfielder in the world. I saw a young man that was going through the motions a lot of the time, and that frustrated me.’
Graeme Souness has been highly critical of Paul Pogba throughout his playing career
Pogba has faced a lot of criticism from the former Scottish player, calling the French player a ‘lazy t***’ and a ‘selfish player’
Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs multiple reporters
Zlatan has had his fair share of awkward moments with the media, largely down to the fact he isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Even admitting in one press conference back in 2016 that he ‘gets a kick out of doing things that hurt you’.
This particular incident saw him clash with TV4 reporter Olof Lundh, after the Swedish forward didn’t take well to Lundh’s question regarding his business interests involving his perfume and clothing brand Dressmann.
Zlatan replied: ‘I’m not allowed to earn money according to you. Every time something happens you say: ‘Doesn’t he have enough money?’ Isn’t that true?’
He added: ‘These projects are fun to work with. It’s new adventures for me. When I’m doing well and you feel a sting from it, then I’m enjoying myself even more.
‘It’s the same as when I’m playing football – I get an extra kick out of it if it hurts you. That’s the best feeling.’
The former striker would give witty and sarcastic replies to journalists, including once when he simply told a journalist to just stop.
It came after the reporter asked the PSG forward at the time how he felt after scoring for the first time in two months.
The problem, Zlatan had scored in that time, meaning the reporter was factually incorrect. In response to the reporter, Zlatan simply said ‘please my friend! Stop. If you don’t know your information don’t talk to me’ before storming out.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a number of run-ins with various reporters during his career
The Swedish striker was never one to shy away from voicing his opinion in press conferences
Jurgen Klopp vs Roy Keane
One of Jurgen Klopp’s most memorable moments with the English media came back in 2020, and involved who else but Roy Keane.
Straight off the back of claiming their first Premier League title in 30 years, the Reds hosted Arsenal in Anfield.
After going 1-0 down, Liverpool recovered to beat the Gunner’s 3-1. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the German manager immediately went after Roy Keane for a comment he heard the Irish pundit say right before he came on to speak.
‘Did Mr Keane say it was a sloppy performance? Maybe he is speaking about another game. Cannot be this game, sorry, nothing was sloppy.’
Not wanting to be public enemy number one, Keane quickly clarified what he said, insisting he did not mean to insult Klopp’s side.
‘I’m not sure you heard me correctly there,’ Keane said with Klopp immediately responding, saying he would ‘100 percent’ go back and listen.
Jurgen Klopp was baffled by Roy Keane following a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal back in 2020
Klopp came after Keane after he heard the final few words from the Irishman’s analysis of their 3-1 win against Arsenal
Jurgen Klopp vs Niels Christian Frederiksen
Another memorable Jurgen vs the media moment occurred earlier this year, when the 57-year-old asked a television reporter ‘what’s wrong with you?’ in a tense confrontation before storming out of the interview.
The tense moment came after Liverpool’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup after it was thought the Klopp’s side would breeze past the Red Devils.
The former Liverpool took offence at a question about his side’s intensity, calling it ‘stupid’
Before going on to tell the Danish V Sports commentator that ‘you’re obviously not in great shape’.
