Ian Wright believes ‘something isn’t right’ with Gareth Southgate as England’s Euro 2024 showdown with Slovakia looms.
The Three Lions have been unconvincing at the tournament so far, beating Serbia before drawing against Denmark and Slovenia.
Southgate has done his best to put on a brave face, with the England boss urging fans to get behind the team after he had cups thrown in his direction earlier in the week.
But Wright is alarmed by his former team-mate’s demenour in interviews and feels ‘something isn’t right’ with the 53-year-old.
Euro 2024: Gareth Southgate is a man under pressure ahead of England’s clash with Slovakia
PA
The Arsenal icon, speaking on Stick to Football, said: “You can see something about him in his interviews.
“When you look at Gareth before this tournament, you look at him and his demeanour, he was very confident.
“When he’s speaking to people and looking at reporters, there is an authority to what he’s saying, and he has confidence in what he’s saying.
“Now you’re hearing him say, ‘There’s something quite not right,’ and he does this thing at the moment where he’s speaking and will look down and you can see that he’s contemplating something else.
“There is something not right with him and I really feel for him because I think he’s taken on so much with what he’s had to do as England manager and change so many different things culturally and politically.”
JUST IN:England WAGs ‘make pact’ with girls set to rally together ahead of Slovakia Euro 2024 showdown
Euro 2024 is Southgate’s fourth major tournament as England manager.
The Three Lions made the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia back in 2018 before losing 2-1 to Croatia.
England looked destined to win Euro 2020 three years ago, only to end up crashing to defeat against Italy in the final.
And Southgate was unable to steer the Three Lions beyond the last eight of the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022.
With England struggling at Euro 2024, supporters have started to turn on their manager.
And Ezri Konsa, speaking earlier this week, revealed some of his family members were ‘drenched in beer’ after cups were thrown in Southgate’s direction.
He said: “Some of our family members got hit with a few drinks.
“We were aware but we haven’t spoken about it as players.
“We know that in football stuff like that happens. We try not to think about it too much so we move on.
“We check on them. There’s kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Euro 2024: Ian Wright has voiced concerns over Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s clash with Slovakia
PA
“But it’s part of the game, it happens and we try not to think about it too much.
“It wasn’t nice. But there’s a lot of players with a lot of experience who have experienced it before at club level.
“We know what to expect from fans.
“Sometimes it’s always up and down. It’s part of the game.”
And the Aston Villa star also says England can improve, too.
Euro 2024: Gareth Southgate has urged England fans to get behind the team ahead of Slovakia showdown
PA
“We know we can play better. We know that certain performances haven’t been our best level,” he added.
“But we always try and give it our best. We’re not going out to try and play badly on purpose.
“Sometimes in football it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.
“But we’re ready for Sunday now. Our main focus is to get the win on Sunday and that’s it.”