ENGLAND’S “scared” stars were slammed by former manager Sam Allardyce who didn’t hold back during the Three Lions’ horror show vs Slovakia.
The Three Lions saw themselves trailing 1-0 to Francesco Calzona’s side after just 25 minutes at the AufShalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
Ivan Shranz broke the deadlock and Gareth Southgate’s men were unable to respond until the fifth minute of stoppage time with Jude Bellingham’s wondergoal that set up a dramatic comeback as Harry Kane sealed a 2-1 win during extra time.
Allardyce, 69, joined Sky Sports to analyse his former team’s knockout clash at the Euros.
And the former Premier League boss watched Schranz stun England in dead-eyed fashion as he knew “it was coming” since kick-off.
The Dudley tactician went on to slam the players’ character as he could “see the fear” from the off.
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The outspoken coach went on to claim that all of Southgate’s “talented” players have been reduced to looking like “sixes and sevens”.
Allardyce said once Shranz beat England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford: “There we go…
“It was coming, wasn’t it? Coming…
“You could smell it, right from the start you could see the fear in the England side.
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“It’s just… These players are so, so talented and yet they look sixes and sevens.
“This time it’s a big, big blow, losing the first goal. First time they’re 1-0 down.
“Have they got the correct determination, the correct desire to kick themselves into action and get themselves back in the game and score and try and go and win it?”
England, though, managed to show a winners’ mentality and will now face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
England’s penalty shootout record
THE dreaded penalty shootout.
England’s nemesis at no fewer than SEVEN major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.
But two shootout victories before the Italy defeat give some reason for optimism…
- 1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2
- Euro 1996 semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5
- Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-3
- 1998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-5
- 2006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1
- Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-2
- 2018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3
- vs SWITZERLAND – Nations League third-place play-off, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5
- Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2
- OVERALL: Played 11, Won 3, Lost 8
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
