June 22nd 2024.
Former England football player Gary Lineker has expressed his confusion and disappointment over current coach Gareth Southgate's recent comments. Southgate had made remarks about midfielder Kalvin Phillips, which Lineker found to be both "very strange" and "insulting". According to Lineker, these comments could have been hurtful to the other players in the England squad.
The Three Lions team has been struggling after their underwhelming 1-1 draw with Denmark in the Euro 2024 tournament. Though they are likely to secure a spot in the knockouts, their performances against Denmark and Serbia have raised concerns. One of the areas of concern for the team has been the midfield, with the combination of Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold not working well. Rice, in particular, has not been able to perform at his best, while Alexander-Arnold, who is a natural right-back, has struggled to adjust to his new position.
In a press conference after the Denmark match, Southgate had mentioned that the absence of Phillips was affecting the team's performance. Phillips, who was once a regular in the England squad, lost his spot after a poor season. Southgate's words were not well-received, as many, including former England player Ian Wright, pointed out that there were other young players who could fill the defensive midfield role, such as Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton.
Another England legend and Match of the Day host, Lineker, has now joined in the criticism of Southgate's remarks. He discussed the issue on The Rest is Football podcast, where he called Southgate's comments "insulting". Lineker's co-pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer also expressed his disagreement with Southgate's words, stating that it was worrying if the team had been relying on Phillips for the past few years.
Lineker then went on to say that Southgate's comments were not only insulting to the players already in the squad, but also incorrect. He believed that there were players in the team who could fill Phillips' role, including the young players who had been recently brought in. Lineker also mentioned that players needed clear instructions on their roles, and that there were other options available, such as Jude Bellingham, who could play in the defensive midfield position if instructed to do so.
Phillips had been exceptional for England in the previous Euros, but his club form has since declined. Injuries, as well as a failed move to Manchester City, have affected his performance, and he had a poor season while on loan to West Ham. This ultimately led to him being left out of the Euro 2024 squad.
It is expected that Southgate will make some changes to the team for England's final Group C game against Slovenia, and Alexander-Arnold may be dropped in favor of players like Conor Gallagher, Mainoo, or Wharton. Lineker and many others will be eagerly waiting to see how Southgate's team selection and tactics will perform in this crucial match.
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