Gary Lineker has insisted his criticism of England at Euro 2024 has been ‘fair’, despite the BBC attracting controversy ahead of the Three Lions’ final showdown with Spain tonight.
Lineker and Alan Shearer have been scathing in their assessment of England’s performances at the tournament, sparking controversy in the process.
Some feel the BBC pundits have overstepped the mark with some of their comments, with Gareth Southgate’s side now just 90 minutes away from ending 58 years of hurt.
They will go up against Spain tonight looking to win their first major trophy since the World Cup back in 1966, despite not always being at their best.
Gary Lineker has hit back at BBC critics ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain on Sunday
BBC
The likes of Southgate and Harry Kane have been forced to answer questions on Lineker while being out in Germany, while BBC staff are reportedly unhappy at some of the criticism levelled the 53-year-old’s way.
But Lineker, writing in his BBC column ahead of the final, has now hit back.
“Let’s be honest about it, England are in the final despite not playing very well when the tournament started,” he said.
“It feels like a lot has been made of the BBC’s analysis of the team, and particularly Harry Kane, when that was happening, but all we did was say what we thought.
“We were critical of the first few performances, but everyone was.
“And even the England players and manager have said since then that there was something wrong in the group games, but they are over it now and they have been improving.
“On the BBC, we were basically just saying that too.
“There were never any personal attacks at all, on Harry or anyone else, because that is not our style – but we do have to be honest about what we see.
“I think Harry would be the first to agree that he was not at his best but I feel like we have been fair on him and the team.
“The only time I have talked about him myself was from a tactical and technical point of view, speaking as a former striker, about how he does not really run in behind so you have got to get other players to do that.
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“If those players are not doing it either, England have got a really good alternative in Ollie Watkins, who plays an entirely different game to Harry even though they are both number nines.”
Despite Kane struggling for consistency, the Bayern Munich striker is expected to start the match tonight.
It would be a brave decision to drop the England captain on the biggest night of his career.
And Lineker has continued to defend himself, insisting he’s not been ‘critical of him at all’.
“I don’t think I’ve been critical of him at all, actually,” he continued.
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Gary Lineker has been critical of Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate ahead of England and Spain Euro 2024 final
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“I’ve only ever talked about his strengths and, not necessarily weaknesses, but the things he does and doesn’t do in his game.
“He might not have been at his absolute best but he is still the best finisher that I think England have ever had, because he just does not miss, and he is a constant threat from pretty much anywhere.
“All we were trying to do as a panel on TV was evaluate all of that, but sometimes newspaper journalists use pundits to ask their questions for them, because they have not really got the courage to say it themselves.
“Instead, they will go ‘Gary Lineker says you weren’t very good’, which is not exactly true and I always think ‘Well, say it yourself, if that is how you feel’.
“We are used to that though, and I guess it is a compliment really, but then when England have started playing well here we then get told ‘Oh you are being too favourable, you have gone over the top’.
Gary Lineker has defended his comments on Harry Kane as England prepare for their Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain
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“You can’t win, basically, but I think the public, when you see their response, agree that England did not play well in their first games, and they are playing well now.
“So, I think most people get where we are coming from. It is our job to be critical, to be analytical and to say exactly what we think, and I think we’ve done that, and done it in a very fair way.”