Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer continue to criticize England’s poor performance

Former England captain Alan Shearer described the Three Lions’ performance against Slovakia yesterday as “so bad it was unreal” while Gary Lineker felt Gareth Southgate’s players looked like “lost souls”.

England advanced to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 thanks to Jude Bellingham’s stunning, last-gasp strike that canceled out Ivan Schranz’s first-half goal and Harry Kane’s header early in extra time.

It was another unconvincing display, the fourth in a row in Germany which led to a lot of criticism, including from Shearer and Lineker.

Captain Kane called on former England players to show more “responsibility” and remember they were part of previous failures – a direct response to Lineker labeling the game against Denmark as s***.

But, speaking on their podcast The Rest is Football, the former Barcelona striker, along with Shearer, were again disappointed with England’s efforts.

Shearer said: “They were so bad it was unreal.

“They were miles away from it, miles away from it. They are nowhere near what we expected and expected from England. We are all waiting to improve and be better, for that spark.”

Hello! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PxYleQLSH7

– England (@England) July 1, 2024

Is England’s way of thinking right?

Lineker insisted that England’s difficulties were not due to a lack of effort but pointed out problems with Southgate’s arrangement.

He said: “I look at them right now and I see a group like lost souls. I don’t think they really know what they are supposed to do, or what their jobs are, or how the team is supposed to play.

“I am sure that they have been told, but the question is whether they have bought them. They play in a format or style that is unusual for many of them, because most of them play a high pressure machine, with a powerful short passing ball. [for their clubs].

“We have never seen that. So I actually feel a little sorry for the players. You can see they are trying nuts. They run, they chase and they do all those things. There is absolutely no lack of effort or dedication but they look a little lost.”