Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has shared his thoughts on the verbal fire currently facing the England team at Euro 2024.
Many players have come under the spotlight as Gareth Southgate’s side crawl their way to the knockout stages, including Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice.
Arsenal’s club-record transfer was recently dubbed ‘overrated’ by James McClean as he and his England teammates struggle at Euro 2024.
It has resulted in the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer firing shots at the team for their lacklustre performances.
England recorded an unconvincing 1-0 win over Serbia to open their account, before they were lucky in their 1-1 against Denmark.
Heading into their goalless and final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday, the likes of Declan Rice urged the team to ‘go out and make a statement’ and prove their worth this tournament.
They aren’t the only top players being questioned in Germany because Kevin de Bruyne of Belgium has received the same treatment.
But as Ange Postecoglou pointed out, the Manchester City playmaker ‘went out there to make a statement’ during his side’s must-win game against Romania.
And when the Spurs boss heard Rice utter the same words, he absolutely loved it and dubbed it ‘perfect’, as he told ITV Sport.
England criticism at Euro 2024
“I look at it through a different prism,” responded Postecoglou on players not being able to hide away from criticism given that there is so much media coverage.
“We look at that from our perspective. What I found with young people, they are a lot more mature than we think they are. We have seen 16-year-olds (Yamal) ripping it up in this tournament. Sometimes when you are in camp, especially a national team, you do feel under siege because all the information is sort of coming from one or two sources.
“Whereas, at club football, you go out for a walk, someone will see you and give you a bit of a cheer up and then you get a better perspective. I don’t know if they are protecting the young players. Who are they protecting? They aren’t protecting Cole Palmer. He hasn’t played yet (before the Slovenia game). They’re not protecting Eze – What Declan (Rice) said there was perfect. ‘Go out there, play and make a statement’. You saw de Bruyne the other night, he went out there to make a statement. Modric, they got knocked out, but they went out there and made a statement. That’s what this platform is all about.”
Gareth Southgate’s style of play
The issue isn’t the players, but the man behind the wheel and that’s Southgate.
This is a tournament too far for the former centre-back and his sleep-walking style is ruining a lot of players’ reputations.
READ MORE: ‘He will move…’ Paul Merson hails ‘brave’ Euro 2024 defender amid Arsenal transfer interest
Harry Kane is having to take a lot of verbal hits, Phil Foden has been questioned and so has Jude Bellingham.
All of these players were the best in Germany, England and Spain’s top tier during the recently concluded campaign.
Yet, they play like complete and utter strangers when they don the colours of their country and that problem lies with one man only.
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