Gareth Southgate is under mounting pressure (Image: Getty)
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have blasted Gareth Southgate for “insulting” England stars. Southgate is under mounting pressure following England’s appalling performance in the 1-1 draw against Denmark, the Three Lions’ worst display at a major tournament since the humiliation against Iceland at the Euros eight years ago.
England failed to build on Harry Kane’s early goal and were booed off by disgruntled fans in Frankfurt after being fortunate to escape with a point. They are still set to progress to the knockout stages but are unlikely to go much further unless Southgate can found a solution to their failings.
The manager surprisingly drew attention to the absence of Kalvin Phillips after the Denmark game. The out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder has impressed at previous major tournaments, but his woeful form made him unselectable for the Euros.
“We have been trying to find a solution in midfield for seven or eight years,” said Southgate. “If we hadn’t had Declan Rice for the last few years, I don’t know where we’d have been.
“Unfortunately, Kalvin [Phillips] wasn’t a possible for us for this tournament and Hendo [Jordan Henderson] the same, so we’re trying to find something different.”
The reference to Phillips worried Lineker and Shearer, who discussed England’s issues in the latest The Rest is Football podcast. Shearer said: “I didn’t like Gareth’s comments after the game in terms of Kalvin Phillips.
Lineker replied: “It’s insulting to some of the players who are already there, and also it’s wrong because there are players in that squad that could do it.
Gary Lineker was left concerned by what Gareth Southgate said after the draw with Denmark (Image: The Rest is Football/YouTube)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“Even the young players he’s brought in could do it. Adam Wharton could do it, Kobbie Mainoo could probably do it. But the players need instructions, they need to understand what their jobs are.
Shearer agreed, adding: “They absolutely can. If we’ve been relying on Kalvin Phillips for the last whatever years, then that is very worrying for me. I don’t we have [been relying on him]. I didn’t understand his comment at all.”
Changes are expected for Tuesday’s group finale against Slovenia on Tuesday, with Southgate set to scrap his experiment of deploying Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.