Gary Neville urges England stars not to ‘go down a rabbit hole’ thinking they’re alone in facing criticism – while Ange Postecoglou says he ‘feels’ for Gareth Southgate after plastic cups were thrown at him following Slovenia draw

Gary Neville has defended criticism of England players and urged stars to resist ‘going down a rabbit hole’ in the belief they are the only team to face a backlash.

Gareth Southgate’s side played another tepid match at the Cologne stadium on Tuesday night, failing to improve on their much-criticised game against Denmark for much of the match.

Despite this, the Three Lions still managed to take top spot in Group C after the Danes and Serbia played out a 0–0 stalemate in the other match.

Fans and pundits have reacted strongly to the tournament in recent days, but England are not the only country to go from pre-tournament favorites to European Championship disappointment.

France, the Netherlands and Belgium have all faced criticism after lackluster performances on the group stage, and Neville believes English stars should be careful not to start thinking they are the only ones hearing harsh words.

The former Manchester United defender urged the players not to go down a rabbit hole and believe they are the only team to be criticized

The Three Lions topped their group on Tuesday after another uninspiring performance in Germany

“Gareth and the players have dealt with the media extremely well over the last three tournaments,” Neville said on ITV. “What they shouldn’t do is go down a rabbit hole and think that they are the only ones who will be criticized if they don’t play well.

‘If we refer back to times gone by: this is football criticism that we see. We’re talking tactics, positions, who should join Declan Rice in midfield. These are sincere conversations, because so far there has been genuine disappointment in this tournament.

‘In the past it was always about something very personal, about the destruction of individuals. I don’t see that happening, so I don’t think it’s unfair.’

There were boos from the England supporters after the final whistle on Tuesday, with head coach Southgate having three plastic pint cups thrown at him as he acknowledged the traveling fans.

Further doubts have been cast over the team’s hopes of winning a tournament, while uncertainty over Southgate’s position as head coach will increase after the European Championship due to the supporters’ reaction after another terrible performance in Germany.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who is part of the ITV pundit team for the tournament, expressed sympathy for the England manager’s situation and stressed that the focus must be on football in the coming matches.

‘I sympathize with him in this position.’ said the Australian. “When it’s your own national team, it means more. When you take that job, it’s more than just a coaching job and you have a lot of pride.

‘The cups being thrown at him, I know that would hurt him, especially because he’s had an incredible period, and he could still have the most incredible period of any English manager at the end of it. Except Sir Alf, of course.

Belgian fans expressed their dismay after their side failed to win two of their matches and finished second, setting up a meeting with France in the last sixteen.

Gareth Southgate was booed by England and plastic cups were thrown at him from the stands

‘But at the same time the focus must still be on football, that is where the decisions are still made.

‘We talk about the team selection here, the mentality they bring to the games, but I still think this is the key for England.

“All that external noise has always been there and always will be there.”

England will discover their last 16 opponents on Wednesday evening. The competition takes place on Sunday evening in Gelsenkirchen.