‘He’s received to win the Euros’ – England legend says Southgate’s beneath strain

Gareth Southgate is under pressure to deliver for England at Euro 2024 – but has all the tools to do so, says Alan Shearer.

The Three Lions could only manage a disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday night, with Harry Kane netting in his fourth successive major tournament to put Southgate’s men ahead after 18 minutes.

But Denmark got the equaliser they deserved when Morten Hjulmand struck a thunderous 25-yard equaliser 10 minutes before half-time and, after a stalemate for the rest of the game, England fans and pundits alike have made their displeasure known following the dreary showing in Frankfurt.

Jeering could be heard well before the final whistle and there was a hostile send off for the players at the end. However, former Three Lions skipper Alan Shearer reckons Southgate still has enough in his locker to silence the doubters ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Group C clash with Slovenia in Cologne.

“I think Gareth knows he’s got to win this competition,” said Betfair Ambassador Shearer. “My guess is, if he doesn’t then he’ll probably walk away himself.

“When you look at other great England managers, like Terry Venables, who I was lucky to play under with England, he got us to the semi-final, he’s sadly no longer with us but he has an unbelievable reputation and was brilliant for England.

“Sir Bobby Robson, who I worked with at Newcastle, was amazing for England, he got us to a semi-final in the World Cup.

“Gareth has done all that, he’s done the semi-final of the World Cup and the final of the European Championships, just losing on penalties.

“Let’s hope, and I’ve got everything crossed, that in three or four weeks’ time we’re talking about England winning the competition, and him then going into the World Cup in two years’ time.

“I do think that he knows, and everyone thinks that because of the team that he has now, this should be England’s time to win it.

“He’s got the experience now at this level, there’s no doubt about it. He played at this level, which I know is different to managing, but he has gone through different teams and players.

“He’ll know what is coming, he’ll know what to expect and he knows the pressure that he is under to go and win games and win this tournament.”

Southgate took charge of England in 2016 after Sam Allardyce resigned following just one game in charge.

And the former defender, who racked up over 500 professional appearances as a player, is now closing in on 100 games managing England.

Since taking the reins eight years ago Southgate has been credited with bringing a sense of unity and togetherness to the national squad which has so often underperformed on the biggest stage.

But the 53-year-old, whose only domestic managerial experience came at Middlesbrough from 2006-2009, hasn’t been afraid to make tough calls recently.

Ahead of the tournament in Germany, Southgate left out Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and James Maddison.

Maguire, in particular, had been a regular fixture in England squads since making his international debut in 2017.

But Newcastle legend Shearer – who played with Southgate at Euro ’96 when he infamously missed the decisive spot kick against Germany in the semi-final penalty shootout – insists his former Three Lions team-mate’s biggest trump card is his man-management skills.

“A lot of people said he needed to freshen up the squad, he needed to leave a lot of his regulars out who perhaps either weren’t playing well or weren’t even playing, he did all of that,” added Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for England.

“The relationship he has with the players is hugely important, you can certainly tell that he’s got a great rapport and understanding with his players.

“They all like him, they all respect him. He knows what he’s doing, Gareth is a bright guy, he can talk to the media and understand what is needed, which I think is important in our country.

“The most important thing is the players like him and respect him, you have to have that.”

* For more from Betfair Ambassador Alan Shearer head to betting.betfair.com