England head coach Gareth Southgate needs to “change something dramatically” after a “woeful” performance against Slovakia which left his side needing an added-time Jude Bellingham goal to stay at Uefa Euro 2024, Gary Neville has said.
Bellingham scored a 95th-minute overhead kick to force a 1-1 draw, with Harry Kane heading the winner in England’s 2-1 victory a minute into added time.
“I’ve played with Gareth Southgate and I know him,” former England defender Neville told ITV Sport. “He’s a great guy and he’s got massive integrity but he will realise tonight that he was so close to the edge. Very close to the edge.”
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England vs Slovakia: ‘Relief’
“‘Sweet Caroline’ doesn’t sound very sweet. Relief is the word of the day. We’ve been very lucky and we should thank our lucky stars. We were woeful and we’ve been woeful now for four games.”
Ivan Schranz had slotted the underdogs in front after 25 minutes in Gelsenkirchen and England had not produced an attempt on target until Bellingham’s sensational equaliser.
Southgate had already received substantial criticism for tactics which had been widely perceived as excessively cautious given the squad at his disposal, and the former defender’s job would have come under intense scrutiny had England lost.
“Not even in extra time have we played particularly well,” said Neville. “We drew Slovakia onto us and they were unlucky at the end.
“Everyone in the country has been crying out for more change in every single match – from game one, two, three. The same clamour will happen again.”
👏🏴 Gareth Southgate applauds the travelling @England fans in Gelsenkirchen #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/bksTmqmPA8
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
England starting XI: Palmer in?
“[Fans will want Cole] Palmer, [Trent] Alexander-Arnold and other players to come into the team to create more balance and excitement.
“Getting over the line and winning is all-important in tournaments, but if you think you can go through a month of a tournament playing like we are doing and get through it to the end, it is unrealistic.”
Having edged past Serbia in their opening game through Bellingham’s winner, England drew 1-1 with Denmark and 0-0 with Slovenia.
They will face Switzerland, who convincingly knocked out holders Italy a day earlier, in Dusseldorf in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
