Southgate’s best man claims pundits ‘should be ashamed of themselves’

• Gareth Southgate has come in for criticism once again during the Euros 
• Spain vs England LIVE: Follow all the build-up to the huge clash in Berlin
• LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Gareth Southgate has a limit: He will want to shove victory down people’s throats 

The criticism that has been levelled at Gareth Southgate and the England side at the European Championship has been slammed by the manager’s best man Andy Woodman. 

The Three Lions were slow coming out of the blocks in Germany, with a win and two draws and only two goals scored in the group stages, which drew some negative appraisals from almost all angles. 

Gary Lineker went as afar as describing the performance against Denmark as ‘s***’.

This provoked a thinly-veiled dig from Harry Kane in response, seemingly suggesting that those who had worn the shirt before him and similarly failed to win a competition ought to have more empathy. 

Lineker then reaffirmed his position in his BBC Sport column on Sunday morning, underlining that he was being critical of the performances rather than conducting any ‘personal attacks’. 

However, in an interview with the Sun on Saturday, Southgate’s former best man has slammed the comments that have been aimed at his friend.  

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‘The criticism has been disgusting,’ he said. ‘When I see the ex-team-mates, pundits and journalists Gareth knows well — and he’s given them access to him and the team — suddenly saying things for clickbait or for their own agendas, that’s not right.

‘People forget the national team was previously so detached from the country, it was horrific. 

‘We had years where we were so disconnected, but now have a team we’re proud of and manager we should be proud of.

‘Gareth is patriotic and gets it — and yet people want to criticise.

‘One or two TV pundits should be looking back at what they’ve said and be ashamed of themselves.’

Rather than what people are saying about his side, Woodman also suggested that Southgate’s primary concern will be protecting his family and friends from the fallout or flak from any criticism aimed his way. 

In Lineker’s column he was quick to stress there was nothing personal in his comments, and pointed out that even England staff admitted there was ‘something wrong’ in the early stages of the competition. 

‘I don’t think I’ve been critical of [Kane] at all, actually,’ he wrote. ‘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.’

He added: ‘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.’

Lineker also wrote of how it is his ambition as a broadcaster to announce the words that the men’s side had won either the World Cup or the European Championship, and is full of hope that Sunday will be the day. 

England will take on Spain in Berlin at 8pm for a chance at the men’s team’s first piece of major silverware since 1966, while La Roja will be going for a record fourth European crown.