Gary Lineker makes damning two-word statement about Gareth Southgate after England draw
Gary Lineker questioned whether Gareth Southgate was "tactically inept" after England scraped a 1-1 draw with Denmark in their second Euro 2024 Group C game.
However, England's skipper later handed the Danes a lifeline, losing focus just before the first half's final ten minutes. A sloppy clearance from Kane deep in his nation's territory fell to Morten Hjulmand, who unleashed a venomous 25-yard strike.
The ball whizzed through a sea of players, eluding Jordan Pickford and ricocheting in off the post, marking Hjulmand's debut international goal for Denmark. Post-match, the Three Lions' performance left fans at home and critics alike frustrated, struggling to regain their early dominance.
Taking to his The Rest Is Football podcast on Friday, alongside Micah Richards, Lineker questioned Southgate's game strategy. He asked: "Was it tactically inept? It's really hard to be critical of Gareth Southgate, because overall in the England role he's turned England's fortunes around in many ways.", reports the Mirror.
"Having said that, he's kind of ended up adopting a really talented bunch of players. We've done a semi-final of a World Cup, a final of a European Championships, quarter-final of the subsequent World Cup - where to be honest we were a little bit unlucky. He's an amazing leader, he's a great communicator, he's transformed the public's opinion of the national team and the players and stuff like that. He's been brilliant on that.
"But tactically, the first game...and we've seen it in other tournaments as well where England kind of start okay, and then get a goal and then everything changes. It's almost like those tactics of get a lead, hang onto it - and the game's moved on from that hasn't it?"
Southgate could only muster a draw from Denmark (Image: Getty)
Lineker added that the approach is fine if you have a "not particularly talented team", citing: "That's what's frustrating isn't it? " and later said that "Denmark won the tactical battle". Lineker also admitted that he wanted to see more of a high press from England going forward, detailing how Spain executed the tactic exceptionally well to prevent Italy from making easy moves into their half later in the evening.
He continued: "Why does England not play the high press? They might play it for about three minutes in a game. Are they not coached to play that? You feel a little bit guilty for Harry Kane. Can you do it with Harry Kane that way? I think you can. You've got to say to your striker Harry - however good he is - 'You've got to buy into this Harry, you don't need to do too much but it needs to come from your forward player'."
"And you could also argue 'yeah but the midfield players behind have got to buy into it and push from behind', but that's got to come from the management, and England do not play high press . The times in the Southgate reign that I've been impressed with England the most have been when they've played the high press."
Lineker also questioned Kane's pressing (Image: Getty)
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"When he's done it, it's only lasted for 20 minutes, 30 minutes - maybe a half. But it's ever happened and I don't understand why. I can't get why England play so deep, and they were stretched. And Harry just ambles back and I think you've got to say to Harry 'good as you are, you've got to be the first man of the press'. But if he's not telling him that, then you can't blame Harry Kane."
Despite a 1-1 stalemate with Denmark, England remain at the helm of Group C, following their initial triumph against Serbia. Jude Bellingham emerged as the hero, securing all three points with his standout header.
Southgate's team head into their final group stage match against Slovenia on Tuesday in a strong position, being the only side to have secured a win in their group so far.
