England squad defend Gareth Southgate in what could be his final tournament | Back Pages Tonight

[@JohnDaleBeckley]

You gotta love how the British media builds them up and brings them down … no other county does as good as you guys

[@jogolock1190]

English media

[@nickwoodward819]

They've brought themselves down with their performances mate. For once this isn't the media. In fact they've been overly positive the last 2 games

[@TomBartram-b1c]

A "boost to the Dutch" will be Van Dijk NOT having to worry about Toney out-muscling him.

[@HarryFlowerrs]

🤡

[@anthtan]

Yeah, well, Southgate will only put him on if England are chasing the game and it's 3 minutes into injury time, right?

[@yingyang1008]

It's so obvious that Kane needs to play behind another striker - it's that simple Leaving him alone up top never works, especially when he drops deep

[@Sai-qz9nk]

Bellingham will be virtually starting the game on a yellow card after his post-match comments on the referee being a match fixer when he was with Dortmund..

[@yingyang1008]

The referee is literally a match fixer - so I guess he will do whatever those who pay him tell him to do

[@Etch-on4oi]

Shocking, if you match fix you shouldnt be able to participate ever again

[@jordanbeagle5779]

@@Etch-on4oi absolutely

[@HappyGeordieAngler]

@@Etch-on4oi especially a game as big as this ffs

[@MrHeyhomes]

What will happen vs Netherlands. Goal down in 30mins and we have zero shots on goal and can’t counter because Kane is to slow. Half-time no changes. 55 min 2 goals down and England 1 shot on target from Rice. 75 min Southgate makes 3 subs but Kane is not subbed, Foden is taken off after doing ten times the running of Kane. 85th min England score from OG after a Saka run and no Kane in box so he blasts it across 6 yards hits defender. 94th min Toney comes on for Kane. Fans already walked out. England going home

[@Toracube]

The England team are laying on the Siege mentality thing a bit thick, especially since they haven’t really performed yet….

[@NicholasWarnertheFirst]

....yet they are in Semis.

[@newtonheath8938]

defend Gareth on the pitch, prove it by doing it on the playing field boys

[@laurasands8322]

Dont bet on it, im betting that the FA are delighted with how far England have got in the tournament and might offer him another five year contract, why would he walk away, hes on five million pounds a year also who else would offer him a management position?

[@zoethepom357]

i agree, he said 4 semis in 5 comps the FA golden boy

[@FrankieBrannan-h3r]

Please god No!

[@cjc132]

England fans are the must entitled, toxic fans on earth

[@simonoliver8576]

​​@@zoethepom357I find it weird that he has had four major tournaments most england managers throughout history have not had that many even alf ramsey the only person who won something got fired four years after winning the world cup aswell🤣 yet if we do not win this one then he is still untouchable it seems if he wants to continue in the role of england manager southgate? The only way he leaves the england job after the euros is if he resigns however five million quid a year makes you wonder if he will actually do that tho🤔

[@brandonking2679]

What makes you think he even wants to manage a club after England ? Way too many entitled young England fans.

[@mindgardening7168]

These two are like Southgate .. full of charisma

[@kiraofthesky5561]

They should defend him with their play on the field not with words

[@AllyBeee1]

What a joke a journo saying he is fed up with the narrative, it's the media driving it! Did you even watch the Rest is Football? Because they have been going through pros and cons and making good suggestions, they are former players, they know a damn sight more than a reporter looking for sales and clicks. The quote from Lineker was as usual, taken out of context.

[@mega7070]

That one journalist isn't the media dude. One man can't be lumped in with the collective. He can have his own separate opinions that don't agree with the majority of journalists

[@carls-95]

To be fair, none of the rest is football lot ever got to a major international final, so do they really know more? 🤔

[@DayWalker745]

Lineker is an idiot though.

[@charlesapana9935]

The fans, the players can't wait for Southgate to be fired or walk away

[@3chords490]

The easy way for Southgate to not drop his captain is not have Harry Kane as captain. End of. If it’s a choice between loyalty and England winning then loyalty can go to hell…..😮

[@jamesmclardy8636]

Hes not choosing loyalty over winning. He's picking kane cos he knows we're more likely to win with our best goal scorer on the pitch. 100% right decision. Wud be mad to drop kane

[@brandonking2679]

@@jamesmclardy8636exactly.Kane can’t not do anything for 89 minutes and then bang a goal.Hes England’s all time goal scorer and did it 44 games quicker than Rooney.

[@davehoward22]

England fans are cynical,because the older you are,the more times you have been through this.

[@brandonking2679]

I disagree.With the exception of euro 96 this is the best we’ve been and 3 semi finals in four tournaments is a hell of an achievement. Every manager England has ever had faces the same kind of scrutiny Gareth is going through.

[@jogolock1190]

After that Brazil 1970 performance by England against the Swiss, I can see England easily winning against the Dutch. What a time to be alive watching England in Euro 2024.

[@LevelEarth2021]

Can these media outlets please stop using the word 'Success' and 'Southgate' in the same sentence. Trophies = Success and as of right now, after 8 years, 4 Tournaments he has a big fat ZERO. Im an England fan and its very annoying hearing this narrative that Southgate is somehow a success for literally winning nothing and sends the wrong message to the team.

[@3chords490]

We are all 100% behind Southgate and the team , we just want Southgate to back himself.

[@PastaaFN]

We* who's we

[@lukemoloney1113]

No we're not, fire his ass immediately

[@3chords490]

@@PastaaFN Well , obviously not you for a start 😜

[@Soniceduardo1820]

As a Man U fan, I totally get the English fan perspective. All season we constantly criticise the manager and the players but somehow we at times come 2nd in the league or win a cup. You know the team can do better but the team is a moments team and they get results but in a baffling way!

[@AllyBeee1]

thats the problem with Southgate, he is a man manager, a coach, not a real manager, he works well with the players, they love him coaching them BUT he isn't picking the team right, the formation and he cannot game manage. He doesn't utilise the squad as an asset and his subs are reactive. He would be a great coach working with a good PL proven manager who would get the best out of the players.

[@randyschwaggins]

And yet he has the best tournament record of any England manager in history! 😂 2 SF and a Final over 4 tournaments can only be competed with by Sir Alf Ramsey's WC win, a Euro SF (when the tournament had 4 teams) and a WC QF.

[@Bennyboy138]

If some of these pundits and journos are fed up of criticism of Southgate then they can jog on because we as fans have every right to call it how we see it. Those fans who've travelled to Germany have spent a fortune to watch utter dross from a team filled with elite players, and we have every right to be annoyed when we see players being played out of position constantly, or Kane staying on all game when he's done next to nothing, or blisteringly fast wingers like Anthony Gordon not even getting a sniff, or not having a shot on target until the 95th min against SLOVAKIA, or getting to the 75th min vs Switzerland and still no changes had been made in which there only was as soon as we went 1-0 down with only 15 mins to go showing how reactive instead of proactive Southgate's been....we have every right to be annoyed by these things! Yes we're deep into a tournament but we could've easily been knocked out by now against poor opposition too

[@applecrumble8424]

Yawn

[@marklloyd6433]

It's like they've just all got a memo from the FA to 'stop all Southgate criticism' if they care about their careers, isn't it? How can supposedly the most knowledgeable experts and analysts not be talking about how bad Southgate's team selection and in game management is? We saw it from some at first, but now it's petered out and been replaced by voices promoting southgate when his incompetency has become even more obvious. Very odd.

[@daniel52031]

Ogden speaks differently on Sky to the way he does on ESPN. Wheres your hottake now ?

[@AG2Game]

The amount of waffling contradictions this guy made hurt my brain. You’re disappointed the nation isn’t getting behind the team despite reaching semi finals, but previously mentioned the teams we played weren’t that great and we didn’t even play well against them. 😂 If we went up against Spain at any point in this tournament Luck wouldn’t cut it. The nation want to get behind a team (like the Spanish is for Spain) that is absolutely playing class against top teams and winning.

[@phillipnoetzel7637]

When did Malkovich take up punditry?

[@FrankieBrannan-h3r]

Boring/Lucky wins don't capture a nations heart! A win is a win but the football displays have been turgid. Southgate needs to go after the tournament whether England win or lose. Let somebody else come in and watch the team thrive.

[@Sharpyste]

Very well said i agree wholesomely hes time served now , we need fresh start and outlook , a better manager that will actually take risks even if it means were weak on the counter attack or what have you

[@steves1460]

I would rather go out in the group stages with spirited performances, than just wriggle through to the later stages by avoiding anybody who can hit a cows arse with a banjo and by playing turgid, defensive football. Either way, you lose! Southgate’s flaw is that his plan involves rolling a six every time and of course the luck eventually runs out. Had we ended up in the other side of the draw, you can only begin to imagine what would’ve happened to us and that would’ve shown up the debacle for what it truly is.

[@Sharpyste]

@@steves1460 well i still want us to do well but we need to get some free flowing football back

[@tomscott4438]

Defend Southgate with your play on the pitch. Everything else is just talk.

[@adam.677]

Southgate is so good he might get offered the real madrid job 😂😂

[@-VForValhalla-]

Southgate should definitely join ManU

[@steves1460]

Every City fan agrees and would happily chip in with £10 to get the deal over the line!

[@GhostSuplex]

Media changing their tune 😂

[@ckgoogl]

VVD would love to play against Kane. At Spurs, Kane was never a threat against Liverpool. (Son was a much bigger attacking threat.) Sure win for the Dutch if Harry Kane plays more major minutes.

[@zawierk]

It's a brilliant strategy from Southgate. We had an easy group and he used that wisely. Don't risk injury and don't exhaust the team. It's tough to watch, but it works. Everyone thinks England are weak, and that's a good thing as when they play a major side they go in thinking England will be easy to beat. It's a classic Trojan horse. We can turn it on very quickly and shock the other team.

[@steves1460]

So scoring with seconds to go was all part of the plan!? He flies by the seat of his pants and keeps getting lucky, but eventually that look ends for everybody!

[@Feisar777]

The teams that knocked us out in previous tournaments were infinitely better than anything we've beaten so far, please stop using this as a yard stick for Southgates results, knocked out by the likes of Maradonna, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Battistuta, Figo, Klingsman and this guy been getting knocked out by complete unknowns at Iceland and a really average Italian side, whilst landing the luckiest draws and circumstances possible, compared to years of dodgy hand of gods, red cards, injuries to star players, disallowed goals and pen coin flips

[@richiefromhollywood]

hmm... 🤔 Germany 1-2 Spain Referee Anthony Taylor (English) decided not to award a penalty. England vs Switzerland 1-1 (5-3) penalties UEFA - Founded at Basel, Switzerland, Headquarters Nyon, Switzerland Felix Zwayer (German) will lead an all-German refereeing team. once criticised over his match-fixing will officiate England's European Championship semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

[@daniel52031]

Chill out Richie, Jesus

[@johncrislack3854]

Of course, "Germany 1-2 Spain Referee Anthony Taylor (English) decided not to award a penalty." a penalty in a OFF-SIDE play... really?

[@richiefromhollywood]

@@johncrislack3854 from the direct shot by Museala - wolly

[@richiefromhollywood]

@@daniel52031 eh?

[@brettb1]

He should give olly Watkins a go Kane has been poor this tournament

[@johncorcoran8172]

The style criticism is also about risk. You are congratulating them for a 'fantastic' penalty shootout - that is laughable ! The ultimate sudden death scenario where England will be most under pressure. If you have better 'quality' players, most of that quality is their regular time performance quality i.e. shooting, passing, athleticism. You give a higher quality team the most advantage by playing the football where they have the most advantage. Southgate has done a great job of creating a positive team culture but he does none of the things you'd expect a coach to do - tactical and strategic decisions like subs, formation, team selection, squad selection - like the 90 % of being a coach!? He needs to spend more time at club level failing so he knows what works for HIM as a manager. That's how you get squad and team selection right - you know what players suit your system. He doesn't have a system, he's just throwing the 10 best outfield players on and then trying to make it work even if they play out of position and are no longer effective. There is an expected level of performance - you don't expect to clap if Real Madrid or Man City to reach the semi- finals of the Champions League - given their squad value, that is literally an expectation. England's squad value is ridiculous. He's not overachieving. If Real Madrid's manager doesn't win ENOUGH titles, he gets sacked. Same at Manchester United and most other big clubs. But let's clap because everyone's happy.

[@robertchant9627]

Saying arnold was dropped is the wrong word

[@Sharpyste]

Look ill always be thankful for Southgate getting us where we have but lets be honest we should have achieved alot more thats not me being arrogant i think under a decent manager this England team on paper are on the best there is out , win or lose im happy we got to a semi final considering how poor we have been , yes were getting results and thats all that really matters , theres no doubt Southgate & dechamps are the same here playing boring football it works though . Contradictory to what people say i honestly think we have had a great euros some entertaining matches in there.

[@peterhendriks4736]

Southgate is not a little bit cautious, he is ridiculously cautious. Football is entertainment, if you have skillful players give the people a chance to see them shine.

[@DayWalker745]

I'd rather it be boring and win than it be entertaining and lose. Maybe it's just me.

[@kyiraanboyle-smart4039]

Should be his last tournament, he hasn’t got a scooby. Hasn’t for years and still get paid 5 mil a year 500,000 a game pretty much

[@tommaxwell7643]

England going far in tournaments is no good unless you can win one of them. Always a bridesmaid never a bride, that describes England.

[@yingyang1008]

Football is a sport, you watch it for entertainment If all that matters is the result, then why show it on TV or even talk about it? Just have a paragraph about the game somewhere in the sports section

[@DayWalker745]

All that matters is the result though. Would you like to play entertaining football and not get out of the group or play boring and win the tournament. I know which one I would take.

[@yingyang1008]

@@DayWalker745 Sure, but no need to put it on TV or to pay the manager 5M a year - it can become just another sport like badminton

[@Saimah92]

Ofc people are gonna like a boss that gives absolutely no criticism and praises you even if you play like trash

[@JavyMatic]

Can't wait for everyone to get their wish of heavy metal football and England out at the quaters every competition after Southgate

[@lukemoloney1113]

Que?

[@donalio123]

Oh the journos changing their tune pretending like they were on Southgate’s side the whole time. What a surprise.

[@Rancid-wd3ty]

Of course i want us to win, but plz make it his last tournament, can,t take that football anymore, meant to be fun to watch isn,t it.

[@mindcache5650]

Nailed. Every tournament easy draw but England fu**d up. Useless drivel. Excuses, more excuses. Ferguson or Klopp would have got rid of Kane after the first game..

[@upyoursmindyourownbusiness3411]

Southgate has had a dream draw. They've played crap. They've won despite this excuse of a manager and this idiot is defending Southgate. Anyone off street could manage as well as Southgate. God help any team that picks up Southgate as a manager bottom of the ladder here you come.

[@Alan-mj2jx]

No close season, I remember Pro footballers turning into cricketers in the summer too much football the players are bound to get stale, it's not sport anymore too much money,

[@zetimedinah]

Get burly Ivan Toney to get the job done upfront..Ivan Toney size surely instill fear on the dutch defence..& of course on the flank cole palmer & watkins to run riot...Kane is old & a spent force...

[@simoncorcoran9226]

Utter nonsense from the players.

[@wiskasIO]

If your club is looking for a boring pathetic style Gareth it's your guy! 👍🏼

[@tomhermens7698]

You want kane to score? Feed him.

[@carls-95]

Southgate: "Wins the euros". Media: "But, it wasn't the world cup" English FA: "You're fired" Fans: "Great decision, we're meant to be losers, you failed"

[@DayWalker745]

​@yoshiwoollyworld Would like to win a major trophy yes.

[@mattc688]

Finally some pundits start to realize 3 lions a result-oriented team. They now understand winning is the only thing matters

[@randyschwaggins]

How do you judge Southgate....🤔 Overly prudent...✅️ Not a great tactician...✅️ Boring...✅️ But he has reached his 3rd SF in 4 tournaments. Best England manager record ever...✅️ It's all too easy to say that anyone could do better with the talent Southgate has at his disposal. But look at the facts; Sir Alf Ramsay went out in the QF in 1970 with the best European squad in the tournament...Sir Bobby Robson couldn't get further than a WC SF (and was a disaster at the Euros)...Terry Venables couldn't do better than a Euro SF at home....and Sven Goran Eriksson couldn't get further than the QF in 3 tournaments when he had an arguably better squad than any other England manager.