ENGLAND WAGs were drenched in beer after cups were hurled from the crowd following the bore draw with Slovenia.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions topped the group and progressed into the last 16 despite being held by Slovenia.
It made it an unbeaten start to Euro 2024 but supporters inside the Cologne were left underwhelmed by the performance.
Footage emerged of Southgate applauding the travelling fans before empty cups were hurled onto the pitch.
But families of the squad were soaked in beer on the bottom tier in Cologne after being caught in the crossfire of drinks lobbed from the stands.
Defender Ezri Konsa said: “Some of our family members got hit with a few drinks. My brother was hit, a few others.
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“It was coming from all angles. I spoke to him after, he said he was fine. It was to the right of the goal.
“There are kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right.
“It wasn’t nice. But there’s a lot of players who have experienced it before at club level.
“We know what to expect from fans. It’s part of the game.”
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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.
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Jarod Bowen’s former Love Island star girlfriend Dani Dyer and John Stones’ partner Olivia Naylor were snapped in the crowd.
As was Ellie Alderson, Ollie Watkins’ girlfriend, who shared a kiss with the striker after the game.
England fans turned on Southgate after the dismal draws with Denmark and Slovenia.
But the Three Lions still topped Group C and face a last-16 showdown with Slovakia on Sunday.
Aston Villa star Konsa, an unused sub in all three games, added: “We know we can play better. Certain performances haven’t been our best level.
“But we always try and give it our best. We’re not going out to try and play badly on purpose.
“We’re ready for Sunday now. Our main focus is to get the win and that’s it.”
Marc Guehi backed Southgate and says the under-fire boss has the full support of the squad.
There are kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right. It wasn’t nice. But there’s a lot of players who have experienced it before at club level.
Ezri Konsa
The Crystal Palace centre-back said: “He has been fantastic for England. If you look at his record, it speaks for itself.
“Everyone is behind the manager and we have a close tight-knit group, just focused on the next game.
“Everyone appreciates him. He’s showed so much confidence in me.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, believes that England can still become Kings of Europe.
Should the Three Lions beat the Slovaks in Gelsenkirchen, they will avoid big guns Portugal, Spain, France and hosts Germany until a possible July 14 final in Berlin.
Liverpool’s Alexander- Arnold told the FA’s Lions’ Den show: “As players, it’d be silly for us to come out here without the thought of winning the trophy in our head.”
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England expect Phil Foden to return for training today after the Manchester City star returned to the UK for the birth of his third child.
As well as Foden, Kieran Trippier and Declan Rice also missed training yesterday as a precaution.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
