The second Euro 2024 group game between England and Denmark got off to an exciting start.

Gareth Southgate’s decision to keep an unchanged starting lineup amid suggestions to drop Phil Foden and Trent-Aexander Arnold was vindicated when Harry Kane coolly finished from close range to give the Three Lions the lead. However, England’s record goalscorer was at fault for giving the ball away within his own half, allowing Morten Hjulmand to hit a long-range strike past Jordan Pickford and equalize the game.

Kane’s opening was set up by former Tottenham teammate Kyle Walker, who sprinted down the right side and cut the ball back to the captain. This occurred just moments after the 34-year-old was seen changing his boots following an early injury scare.

Why Kyle Walker Changed His Boots:

With England’s other full-back options manning other areas of the game, the Manchester City player is the team’s major option on the right side of defense. With no other options, England fans were destined to have their hearts in their throats when Walker fell down off the ball.

Replays revealed that the defender rolled his ankle when trying an early cross, raising concerns about a major injury for many across the country. Fortunately, Walker was able to continue, but only after switching to a different set of boots.

The explanation for this appears to be the slick surface at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion pitch. Throughout the first 45 minutes, the ground was clearly in poor condition, with Jordan Pickford’s goalmouth appearing especially muddy.

Walker was not the only player who struggled on the field, with teammate Marc Guehi filmed slamming on the turf in fury after losing possession before of the throw-in that resulted in Denmark’s equaliser.