- Frank Lampard has given his verdict on England’s performance at Euro 2024
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- LISTEN to It All Begins! Why Gary Lineker is wrong when he claims journalists are ‘too scared’ to ask challenging questions
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard has spoken out about the criticism of England’s performances in the first two games at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions have taken four out of a possible six points and have already qualified for the last 16 ahead of tonight’s final group match against Slovenia, but they have failed to convince against Serbia and Denmark.
Gary Lineker branded the performance against Denmark ‘s***’, prompting Harry Kane to hit back at the BBC presenter and call on ex-players to remember what it was like to wear the national shirt.
Lampard, who has earned 106 caps, has now weighed in on the criticism, admitting there are several parts of the English game of concern but calling on the players to stick together and block out all outside noise.
Addressing the criticized England side, Lampard told the BBC: ‘This is so normal. We all care about the England team. After the 30 minutes against Serbia, things have visibly been difficult for the team since then.
Frank Lampard has responded to criticism of England’s performance at Euro 2024
Gary Lineker branded England’s performance against Denmark ‘s***’
England captain Harry Kane hit back at Lineker and Lampard said he liked the ‘grit’ Kane showed with his response to criticism
The feeling of possession when pressing, I think the strategy of it has been a bit wrong. That’s something they need to address.
The ownership issue, sometimes I don’t think it’s the cleanest thing to build from the back to the front. I do think that if you don’t have and keep possession of the ball, you can quickly lose control of the game.
‘But whatever we are [pundits] saying is not relevant, what matters is what happens within the camp. [They should be thinking] “Let’s show what we can do.”
Kane was measured at a press conference on Sunday with his response to Lineker’s scathing review of England’s latest performance.
However, he made it clear he stood by his teammates, and Lampard insisted he was happy with the way the England captain was speaking.
“I think it shows a bit of courage, that’s what we need,” Lampard added.
‘A little reaction, used in the right way, is good. I like that he spoke like that.”
Lampard was joined in the BBC punditry team by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, and the former has identified the area of the pitch he wants to see improvements in England’s final group match against Slovenia tonight.
“In attack, we were quite terrible in the final third,” Shearer said bluntly.
Alan Shearer believes England have been ‘pretty terrible’ in attack and need to improve
Micah Richards expects Conor Gallagher to improve England’s pressing but isn’t convinced the Chelsea midfielder will be a big asset when the side have the ball
‘That has to improve enormously, and I am sure it will. There has been talk of one or two changes, and if it doesn’t work, it has to be done.’
Conor Gallagher, who replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, is expected to be the only change to Southgate’s XI tonight, and Richards believes this will not improve the team in possession but will make a difference to the pressing England on the ball.
“I don’t think it will improve the situation on the ball,” he said. He is [Gallagher’s] good in the 8 and the 10 as he presses.
‘Getting Bellingham, Foden or Saka on the ball early, I don’t think he brings that, but in terms of pressing I think he certainly brings that.’