HIGH-PROFILE pundits were left stunned at Gareth Southgate’s lack of half-time substitutions as England took on Slovakia at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions produced an awful first-half display to go in at the break trailing 1-0.
AlamyGareth Southgate was left scratching his head[/caption]
ITVITV’s pundits were left stunned by what they saw[/caption]
ITVGary Neville called on Southgate to ‘rip up’ his contracts[/caption]
Ian Wright, Gary Neville and Roy Keane watched on in horror from ITV‘s Berlin studio.
The latter pair called for Southgate to be brave and to “rip up” his plan and try something different in the second-half.
Keane, 52, said: “Southgate could be out of a job in 45 minutes if he doesn’t change something. He needs to go out on his shield.”
Neville, meanwhile, added: “He’s tried minimum interference but I was sat on a bench in Nice eight years ago when England played Iceland – this has got Iceland vibes written all over it.
“It’s now or never for Gareth. He’s got to interfere and rip up the script he’s had all tournament, we’ve watched this now for three-and-a-half games.
“We tried to be really positive and thinking this would be the game today that England would turn.
“He’s now got to twist. I don’t think it’s a case of one substitute, I think he’s got to get three on the pitch.
“I think we’ve got to see Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Anthony Gordon. He’s got to shift the whole narrative around this game.
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“That is not changing unless he does something right now.”
As it happened, Southgate did not make any half-time changes, much to the fury of fans watching on at home.
“Southgate Out” trended on X as England’s nightmare unfolded in Gelsenkirchen.
Just minutes into the second-half, the Three Lions thought they had levelled through Phil Foden.
But following a swift VAR check, the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
Southgate finally made his first change in the 66th minute, throwing on Cole Palmer for Kieran Trippier – with Bukayo Saka moving to left-back.
RexSouthgate finally threw Cole Palmer on in the 66th minute[/caption]