Gary Lineker has delivered a scathing “sh*t” assessment of England at Euro 2024 and questioned Gareth Southgate’s baffling Kalvin Phillips claim.
The Three Lions have stumbled their way through their opening two fixtures at another European Championship, with a narrow 1-0 win over Serbia being followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark.
England have faced plenty of criticism for their supposedly defensive style of play, with Southgate’s side retreating into their shell once taking the lead.
There have been flashes of brilliance from key men such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane, but consistency remains an issue.
Captain Kane admitted after the stalemate with Denmark that the team do not know when to press opponents, with Lineker branding that concession “beyond concerning” before adding on The Rest Is Football podcast:
“I mean, you can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was sh*t.”
Southgate’s Leadership
He went on to say of Southgate’s leadership: “Was it tactically inept?
“It’s really hard to be critical of Gareth Southgate because, overall in the England role, he’s turned England’s fortunes around in many ways.
“Having said that, he’s kind of ended up adopting a really talented bunch of players.
“We’ve done a semi-final of a World Cup final, a final at the European Championship, quarter-final of the subsequent World Cup where, to be honest, we were a little bit unlucky.
“He’s an amazing leader, he’s a great communicator, he’s transformed the public’s opinion of the national team and the players.
“But, tactically, the first game [against Serbia]… and we’ve seen it in other tournaments as well.
“England kind of start OK and then get a goal and then everything changes, and it’s almost like the kind of tactics of, get a lead, hang onto it.
“And the game’s moved on from that.
“They might play it for about three minutes in the game.
“Are they not coached to play that?
“If anyone says that the England team is not trying or not giving 100 per cent, that is nonsense.
“They’re just a little bit lost tactically.
“And that comes from the manager, I’m afraid.
“It really does. He’s got to get England playing higher up the pitch, as a unit.
“Because, at the moment, they’re not a unit.”
Did You Know?
Southgate claimed after the Denmark draw to be lacking another controlling midfielder alongside Declan Rice – with former favourite Phillips left out due to lack of form and game time at club level.
Lineker responded to that remark by saying: “He talked about, ‘I’ve never been able to replace Kalvin Phillips. I thought, ‘Oh come on’.
“[Adam] Wharton could do that job easily. [Kobbie] Mainoo could do that job.
“If you want two holding players, Gareth, you can do that.
“But Bellingham could do that.
“Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, would have gone, ‘This is what you’ve got to do for the team. This is your job’.
“Footballers will always give everything.
“They always give everything. But do you know one thing they need?
“They need to know exactly what their job is.
“I guarantee you, right, the players will be going, ‘We need leadership from the top and we need to be told how to play’.
“I’ve seen this tournament after tournament now, with an unbelievably gifted bunch of players.
“You’ve got to be brave.
“You can’t play and worry about your team’s weaknesses.
“You’ve got to play to your team’s strengths.”
Read more: Yamal Reveals He Won’t Return To School If Spain Win Euros
However, England are virtually guaranteed of a place in the last-16, having picked up four points so far.
They will get another opportunity to establish some momentum while settling on a system that works when facing Slovenia in their final Group C fixture next Tuesday.
Rivers Crisis:Fubara Considers Setting Up Parallel Secretariats
