ENGLAND legends and TV pundits tore into Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions for an “awful, lifeless, tepid” draw against Denmark.
Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand all let rip as Southgate took the blame — admitting his tournament favourites “didn’t function” and “fell short of expectations”.
And Man Utd and Ireland legend Roy Keane fumed that England stars lacked “bravery and courage”.
Harry Kane put England ahead but the Danes were far the better side after Morten Hjulmand’s 34th-minute leveller at Euro 2024 in Frankfurt.
And former Three Lions striker Shearer, 53, stormed: “Awful performance, particularly after going up in the game.
“I don’t think one England player can look at themselves and say, ‘I’ve done my job tonight’.
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“England were all over the place, far too sloppy in possession, gave the ball away too much and got caught too many times.
“There was no energy, no pace, no guile — Southgate is simply not getting the best out of England’s best players.
“It’s concerning and Gareth will get some serious questions.
“You saw England players lying on their backs — they look absolutely shattered but there’s no excuse for that.”
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Former England captain Lineker branded the performance “lifeless and tepid” and joined Shearer in urging Southgate to demand more of his captain Kane.
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Both accused the nation’s 64-goal record scorer of not working hard enough off the ball.
Lineker, 63, declared: “He needs his manager to ask more of him. I would have expected that if I’d put in that kind of performance.”
While ex-Manchester United defender Ferdinand, 45, added: “The players don’t look the same as they do for their clubs. It is a big concern.”
Former Ireland star Keane, 52, told ITV Sport: “Courage and bravery, we’re not really seeing it.
“There’s something amiss with the balance. Bellingham is waving his arms.
“This is a big test for Gareth. It looks like he’s overthinking things.”
Ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher said: “My big worry watching this and for the rest of the tournament?
“England look absolutely knackered. They can’t get close to the ball.
“The surest sign of fatigue is dropping deep.
“Declan Rice is having to cover so much ground. No-one can convince me this is a strategy.”
Kane looked nothing like the striker who scored 44 goals in 45 appearances for Bayern Munich last season.
Real Madrid’s Champions League winner Jude Bellingham was ineffective, while Manchester City star Phil Foden was a shadow of the man voted Footballer of the Year.
ENGLAND vs DENMARK RATINGS
ENGLAND stumbled to a drab 1-1 draw with Denmark.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated the Three Lions team.
Jordan Pickford: 6
Looked a little jittery early doors, though there was nothing he could do about Morten Hjulmand’s corker and he made a decent parry after the break.
Kyle Walker: 7
Made England’s opener by racing round a sleeping Victor Kristiansen – he’ll be having nightmares of that forevermore – and teeing up Kane via a deflected cross.
John Stones: 6
OK but you have got to wonder how fit he feels having barely played for Man City in the second half of the season, plus his injury and illness issues over the last month.
Marc Guehi: 8 and my star man
Really encouraging again from the Crystal Palace centre-back, looking sharp with his interceptions and assured in distribution.
Kieran Trippier: 6
Like Stones, he was fine, but England really need Luke Shaw back ASAP because having no natural left-footer at left-back is a problem.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 5
This experiment of playing Trent in midfield is far from convincing, especially when his passing was off it like it was here, barring one good ball to Saka. Subbed on 54 minutes.
Declan Rice: 5
Had to cover so much ground as England dropped worryingly deep in the first half and also lost it a few times in front of his back four.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Not quite as electric as his first half against Serbia, but another solid showing from our right winger who has been our most consistent attacker across the two games.
Jude Bellingham: 6
Nowhere near the majestic display he put in against Serbia and one of many who looked tired.
Phil Foden: 7
Was far more involved than against Serbia – although that was not hard – and had a few dangerous efforts from range, including one that smacked the post after the break.
Harry Kane: 6
Netted his 64th goal for his country with an opener he could not really miss, but then gave the ball away from Denmark’s leveller. Surprisingly subbed.
SUBS:
Conor Gallagher (on for Trent, 54): 7
Vital clearance on the stretch when Christian Eriksen was lurking and was not afraid to put his foot in.
Ollie Watkins (on for Kane, 70): 6
Played in by Bellingham’s lovely ball after coming on but could not finish from an acute angle.
Jarrod Bowen (on for Foden, 69): 6
Copped a nasty tackle which saw Joakim Maehle booked.
Eberechi Eze (on for Saka, 69): 6
On for his tournament bow though he was rarely involved.
Kane, Foden and Bukayo Saka were all taken off in the second half.
Southgate admitted the display was not good enough but insisted he was to blame, saying: “The team didn’t function and that’s my responsibility.
“It’s up to me to find better solutions than we have in these two games.”
England remain top of Group C on four points following Sunday’s unconvincing 1-0 win over Serbia.
But this draw continued the Three Lions’ dismal record of never winning their opening two games at a Euros.
Southgate added: “I don’t think people would look at the players and say, ‘They don’t care’.
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“If anything we care too much and we’ve got to find a way of getting that right balance.
“The challenge is to do something that’s never been done before, so it couldn’t be any bigger.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
