Gary Lineker has defended his criticism of England during Euro 2024, insisting his comments did not contribute to Gareth Southgate's resignation.
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Southgate stepped down after Euro 2024 final defeatLineker openly critical of England sideDefends his takeWHAT HAPPENED?
England stumbled through the group stage at Euro 2024, beating Serbia but drawing with both Denmark and Slovenia. After the Denmark game, Lineker, on the Rest Is Football podcast, claimed the performance was "tactically inept" and that England were "sh*t".
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England went on to reach the final, but they struggled to convince throughout the entire tournament. Slovakia were beaten in extra time, while a quarter-final clash with Switzerland required penalties. England did beat the Netherlands in normal time – thanks to Ollie Watkins' last-minute goal – but they came unstuck against La Roja. Following the final defeat, Southgate stepped down but Lineker is adamant his comments had nothing to do with his decision.
WHAT LINEKER SAID
Lineker said on his podcast: “We (pundits) were critical at times, because you can’t say when a team is not playing very well, that they played well.
“If they played awfully, you say they played awfully, and they did in the early part of the tournament.
“There’s no question about that. But then to try and make it that that’s the reason, that criticism is the reason he’s gone. It’s not. It’s not that at all. “We speak to the players and they understand where it’s coming from.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
England are on the hunt for a new boss. They have been linked with a shock move to try to appoint Pep Guardiola, having already been rejected by ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.