England fans feel Gary Lineker took a litlte swipe at Gareth Southgate after Spain won the Euro 2024 final.
After a cagey first half from both sides, Neco Williams brought the game to life as he gave Spain the lead soon after the restart.
Southgate’s substitutions worked wonders again for England with Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer coming on for Harry Kane and Kobbie Mainoo to try and change the game.
Palmer did just that with a sublime curling finish from the outside of the box to draw England level.
Gary Lineker called it a ‘victory for attacking football’
BBC
But Mikel Oyarzabal broke England hearts late on with a dramatic winner after a teasing cross from Marc Cucurella out wide.
It’s now back-to-back European Championship finals England have lost with questions now being asked about Southgate’s future.
The 53-year-old has faced criticism all tournament for England’s lack of goals and attacking prowess throughout the tournament despite the abundance of talent up front.
And Lineker appeared to take a shot at the England manager when he said on BBC: “It is a hard defeat for England to take but in some ways, it is a victory for attacking football.”
Spain ended the tournament scoring 15 goals across all seven matches while England managed just half of that figure.
But Lineker’s remark caused a stir on social media, who felt he just ‘roasted’ the England manager.
One fan moaned: “Really hard to watch this on @BBCOne. Before the game you wouldn’t even know Spain were involved in this final. Now @GaryLineker @alanshearer and co are saying just how wonderful Spain were.”
Another complained: “Get rid of @alanshearer and @GaryLineker………. Nothing good to say about this England team.”
England scored eight goals in the tournament
REUTERS
A third wrote: “Lineker has just roasted Southgate.”
One other person posted: “Nice little dig by Lineker there: ‘It’s a victory for attacking football’.”
Another said: “Gary Lineker ‘a victory for attacking football’ …. one in the b******* for Southgate there!”
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England have now lost back-to-back Euros finals
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Southgate was proud of the effort his players put in at the end despite the final result.
He said: “We’ve competed until the very end of the final. I think today we didn’t keep possession of the ball quite well enough.
“We defended well but when you win the ball back you need to get out of that pressure. And we weren’t able to do that. That meant they had more control of the game and that can wear you down a bit.
“That said we got the equaliser and then it was wide open. A big chance at the end to equalise so as always it is fine margins. I do think they were the best team in the tournament.”