Gareth Southgate reacts to England fans throwing cups at him after Euro 2024 draw

Gareth Southgate gave a defiant interview after England fans booed and threw cups in his direction after Tuesday's disappointing 0-0 draw against Slovenia at Euro 2024.

The Three Lions were below par for a third successive match in Cologne but topped Group C despite winning just once and scoring two goals.

England followed up an underwhelming 1-0 victory against Serbia and a 1-1 stalemate with Denmark by failing to convince many of their Euro 2024-winning credentials at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Southgate and his players were booed by the amplified supporters in attendance at half-time and after the final whistle.

"I understand the narrative towards me. That's better for the team than it being towards them," Southgate explained in his post-match press conference.

"But it's creating an unusual environment to operate in. I've not seen any other team qualify and receive similar."

Some of the more furious members of the England section decided to throw plastic cups onto the pitch as he went over to applaud. But Southgate was positive about the performance.

He told ITV after full-time: "Well, I thought we were much-improved with the ball. We've created some good openings and, at the moment, it's hard work for us.

"We're not quite getting that break in front of goal. I thought the boys that came on had a really good impact on the game.

"And we've had the discipline to keep a clean sheet, which has meant we've topped the group. So I understand some reactions but it's a strange environment that we're playing in."

England's narrow triumph over Serbia in the curtain-raiser was the only win among all four teams in a torrid Group C.

Five points - from one win and two draws - was enough for England to finish as group winners. Slovenia qualified for the last 16 as runner-ups with just three points.

Denmark also picked up three points but had to qualify as one of the four best third-place teams due to their inferior disciplinary record to Slovenia.

Serbia scored just once across their three group games - a 95th-minute equaliser against Slovenia - and finished rock bottom with two points days after threatening to walk away from the competition.

Southgate has shouldered mass criticism throughout England's group-stage campaign, which the failure to beat Denmark last time out intensified.

But the England boss has insisted he is growing in confidence with what he is seeing from his players on and away from the cameras.

"Yeah, definitely [I'm more confident than I was five days ago]. So many things are starting to come together," Southgate added.

"We had a lot of issues coming into the tournament. I think the likes of Marc Guehi and how the rest of the defence has played has been a huge positive and something to build on.

"And today, we looked more dangerous, we had a good impact from our subs, we've got to now just convert those chances."