England star threatened to break my legs as soon as match kicked off – it’s part of the game, says Michael Owen
MICHAEL OWEN has revealed Stuart Pearce once threatened to break his legs as soon as a match kicked off.
The duo played together for England on two occasions during qualifying for Euro 2000.
Harry Kane was having none of the mind games
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However, there was no love lost when they faced each other for Newcastle and Liverpool at club level.
Owen believes it is part of the game, though, after discussing the recent incident between Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
The midfielder approached his Three Lions captain before he scored a penalty in last week’s Champions League semi-final first leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Kane later revealed he did not know what Bellingham said, before he told him he knew which way he was going to go after the match.
Giving his thoughts on the incident, Owen told Gambling Zone: “Bellingham’s attempt to put off Harry Kane didn’t offend me, and if you’re going to do it to anyone then I think Kane is the last person to do it to. He probably just blanks it out because he’s so cool under pressure.
“No one ever tried to put me off before a penalty. I always remember Stuart Pearce trying to have some words in my ear as soon as kick-off went, you jog into position and he comes and marks me.
“I always remember him playing for Newcastle, coming over and telling me what was going to happen that day. One or two will say certain things in your career, but it happens quite rarely.
“He said something about breaking my legs. It’s part of the game, people try to intimidate you, we are playing for high stakes. There is a lot on it. I wasn’t affected, I’m not really an emotional person.
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“When crowds sing songs to players and they feel they have to react, they have to put on a show, I just think it’s a weak mentality. I never, ever felt the need to say things to other players to try and intimidate or react to crowds.
“A little like Harry Kane. Look at his reaction yesterday, it is as if he didn’t hear it. He’s so in the zone, I’m sure some people get excited and get carried away to get an edge, but it wasn’t for me.”
Kane and Bellingham are set to be key men for Gareth Southgate in Germany this summer.
England are looking to go one further than the previous Euros by ending their 58-year wait for a major international trophy.
The Three Lions face Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage, with their first match scheduled for June 16.
Southgate’s final squad must be finalised before June 7, the same day as the final warm-up match against Iceland.
His side will also take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at St. James’ Park four days earlier.
