Shearer and Keane slam England after ‘damning’ Slovenia game… but Three Lions bizarrely still FAVOURITES to win Euros
EURO 2024 pundits have slammed England for yesterday’s snoozefest display against Slovenia.
The Three Lions played out a bore 0-0 draw with Matjaz Kek’s side in Cologne.
It was another uninspiring performance that left supporters far from satisfied.
Even ex-England stars Alan Shearer and Jamie Carragher struggled to see the positives, while Manchester United legend Roy Keane slammed the “sloppy” showing.
Speaking on his podcast, Shearer claimed that manager Gareth Southgate selected the wrong squad – even after dropping Trent Alexander-Arnold in favour of Conor Gallagher following his failed midfield experiment.
The Newcastle legend said: “By his own admission, you can tell that. He took him [Gallagher] off at half-time.
“That didn’t work, I thought [Kobbie] Mainoo coming on was a positive. He did well. I thought he made his substitutions too late giving [Cole] Palmer, what, 20 minutes-ish?
“What’s [Anthony] Gordon done against him? Because, giving him two or three minutes?
“I think Gordon did more in two or three minutes on the left-hand side then we’ve shown in two-and-a-half games, I think, with forward passing, with a bit of energy, with a bit of class, bit of knowhow.”
Shearer went on to admit that England’s lack of chances so far at Euro 2024 has been “pretty damning”.
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England player ratings: Southgate's Gallagher experiment fails miserably vs Slovenia
ENGLAND served up another underwhelming performance – but still managed to top Group C.
England dominated the ball, but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third straight display that lacked inspiration.
SunSport’s Tom Barclay has given his ratings of the England players.
Jordan Pickford – 6
Largely a spectator due to England’s dominance on the ball. Asked the touchline what the Denmark score was during one break in the second half.
Kieran Trippier – 6
The one positive of having a right-footed player playing left-back is that he can dispatch in-swinging crosses, and one such one should have been headed home by Conor Gallagher before the break.
Marc Guehi – 7
Cruyff turn early doors showed his confidence from excellent displays against Serbia and Denmark, and barring one loose pass was good again.
John Stones – 6
One of many to miss his target with his passing. He wasn’t bad but, like others, way off what he has produced for his club.
Kyle Walker – 5
Played so safe, rarely looked to get forward. Was lucky at one point that Pickford was alive to his blast of a pass-back. Sliced cross after break summed up his off-night.
Conor Gallagher – 4
Got the nod after the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment ended, but was poor, particularly, in possession and replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.
Declan Rice – 7
Had promised an “in your face” performance from his team, but he was really the only one to produce it. Very good out of possession, much better than against Denmark.
Phil Foden – 7
Liveliest of England’s attacking four by a mile and went close with a stinging free-kick. Booked for dissent, summing up England’s frustration.
Jude Bellingham – 5
Cut a very frustrated figure as he and Harry Kane got in each other’s way at times, while he was often shunted wide left as Phil Foden moved into the middle.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Tapped home on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside in the build-up. OK but once again subbed after the break, perhaps due to fitness concerns.
Harry Kane – 6
Insists he is 100 per cent fit and maybe he is. What is 100 per cent certain is that he has been nowhere near as effective in this tournament as he usually is for England, albeit he was marginally better here.
Substitutes
Kobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7
Made a difference when coming on, making England much more positive in their play. So much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.
Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71) – 7
Finally made an appearance at this tournament and one clever ball through for Mainoo showed what he can do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84) – 6
Came on for the final few minutes at right-back, with Walker going to left-back.
Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88) – 6
Like Palmer, first minutes at the Euros, but too late to make an impact.
He continued: “What he’s tried to do in the first three games hasn’t worked. His starting line-up in three games hasn’t worked, so big changes. For me, he has to play Gordon on the left-hand side.”
Carragher also refused to shy away from berating Southgate’s squad, claiming that some players failed to back-up the fighting talk they used before Tuesday’s match.
In his column for The Telegraph, he wrote: “When Harry Kane and Declan Rice came out fighting after the criticism that followed the Denmark draw, no one was applauding them more than me.
“They looked and sounded like the leaders they are. The trouble is, when you speak like that, you have to back it up where it really matters. To me, that made the Slovenia performance the worst yet.”
He added: “The sum total of England’s contribution to Euro 2024 so far is 45 minutes against Serbia from Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka. That is it. We cannot dress it up any other way.”
Like Shearer, the Liverpool legend insists Southgate needs to switch up his starting line-up.
“Ripping up part of the team and starting again may be against Southgate’s instincts,” Carragher claimed.
“He has never had to do it before in tournament football. Now he goes into every game knowing it could be his last as the England manager.
“The alternative is more of the same, with players trying to paint a positive picture based on the fact England won the group and are unbeaten.”
Ex-Ireland star Keane also had some strong words for the Three Lions.
Speaking live on ITV, he said: “It has been too slow and too sloppy.
“The one good moment was offside.
“Pass it in front of somebody, and be brave enough to lose the ball.”
Gary Neville echoed the sentiments and labelled the team “basic”.
It was harsh to hook Gallagher at half-time... but Mainoo showed he's the answer, says Jack Wilshere
KOBBIE MAINOO was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield, writes Jack Wilshere.
I think he showed why in the second half against Slovenia.
But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.
Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament.
And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure.
He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future.
Read Jack Wilshere’s post-match verdict in full.
Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 columns.
Despite the criticism, England are still favourites to WIN Euro 2024.
Yes, you read that right.
The Three Lions somehow managed to top Group C with five points and now have a favourable potential route to the final.
According to Ladbrokes, England are now 4/1 to win the tournament.
Germany and Spain are both 6/2 while France are 5/1.
England icon Gary Lineker was keen to look at the positives from Tuesday’s match despite the results.
Having already been critical of the Three Lions at the European Championship, the ex-Leicester star changed his stance following the 0-0 draw.
After branding the first half “really dreadful” on The Rest is Football podcast, he said: “In the second half, I thought you could see that if this team continue to play a high press, chances will come.
“And we may have been playing that way because Slovenia knew that a draw would get them through. So, they were cautious and sat back a little bit. I understand that.
“But I saw enough to suggest that England are improving slightly.
“Now, I think there were downsides but I think there were real positives, particularly, I thought, when Cole Palmer came on.
“We were still unbalanced on the left, no question about that, and I thought it was a little baffling that he waited so long for Anthony Gordon to come on, because I think [Phil] Foden was playing there but then he was switching with [Jude] Bellingham and I don’t think that really helped either of them in a way, because they were neither here nor there.
“I’m trying to put a positive spin on it. What I did see in the second half was energy and I haven’t seen energy, apart from the first half an hour of the first game, in the other performances.
“So, I think there’s enough there in the second half, enough there just to make me think for the first time this England team has some energy, which they hadn’t before.”
Former England and Man Utd star Paul Scholes appeared to agree.
After criticising Southgate’s decision not to start Kobbie Mainoo, he took to Instagram to write: “Might surprise a few… Very encouraged by that performance.
“At some point during that game the right players were on the pitch at the same time… Think this team is ready to click.”
England broke an unwanted European Championship record following Tuesday’s match against Slovenia.
Having topped Group C with five points and two goals scored, the Three Lions contributed to the joint lowest-scoring group in European Championship history.
England are set to play in the round-of-16 on Sunday.