Euro 2024: England coach targeted by ex-football stars

The United Kingdom seceded from an unpopular prime minister, Rishi Sunak. But there is someone who is more criticized in the country today: Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England football team.

England are certainly in the running for the Euros: they play Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday 6 July. But their game annoys a good part of the country. No one across the channel seemed to believe in ultimate victory. With players like Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham , the English supporters envisioned a fireworks display. They see dull matches with an unmotivated team. But it’s not the players who are to blame, it’s Southgate. He is considered careful and clumsy in tactical choices. for that Round of 16, a painful win against SlovakiaWe may read or hear here that he is “ruining” England’s prospects, “ruining” the country’s confidence.

Gareth Southgate is particularly vulnerable to criticism from England’s most feared and powerful caste: ex-players-turned-consultants. On his podcast, former football star Gary Lineker spoke about the players who played in the round of 16. “Like lost souls. I believe they were told what to do but did they understand it ? They play in a style that is foreign to them because most of them practice high pressure with dynamic football based on short passes. We didn’t see it. “

“I don’t think they really know what they’re supposed to do, or what their mission is, or how the team is supposed to play.”

As these ex-players have no language barrier even on American channels like BBC, ITV, TNT and CBS. They also write columns in major British newspapers. Their names are Alan Shearer, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand… ex-football stars who are intractable “pundits” (commentators). Football genius turned TV star Gary Lineker is undoubtedly the most powerful of them all. His status goes beyond that of a consultant, as he presents his own shows. It is the BBC’s biggest salary, at €1.6 million a year. Conservative governments wanted to silence him because on social media he sometimes criticized their decisions as being contrary to the BBC charter. But he won his position with the channel and elected officials, doing what he wanted.

In the past, Gary Neville has also taken political stances, sometimes even on SkySports. Some envision him one day as mayor of Manchester. He is omnipresent in the media.
England does not It has not won the title since the 1966 World Cup. She becomes impatient and angry with the coach who will undoubtedly hand it over after this match. Harry Kane, the current England captain, recalled that not all of these former players had won an international trophy.