Gary Lineker sticks knife into England again and reveals Alan Shearer 'left the room' during Slovakia win

Gary Lineker England Slovakia

Gary Lineker has criticised England after their Euro 2024 win over Slovakia

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 01/07/2024

- 10:15

Updated: 01/07/2024

- 12:53

The BBC presenter has opened up after the Three Lions made the quarter-finals of the competition

Gary Lineker has stuck the knife into England after their 2-1 win over Slovakia, saying Gareth Southgate's side look like 'lost souls' at Euro 2024.

And he also revealed Alan Shearer left the match they were watching the game in, so furious was his BBC colleague.


England were less than 90 seconds away from being dumped out of the European Championships, having fallen behind in the 25th minute.

But a sensational goal from Jude Bellingham forced extra-time, with Harry Kane then scoring the winner in the 91st minute.

Gary Lineker England Slovakia

Gary Lineker has criticised England after their Euro 2024 win over Slovakia

RESTISFOOTBALL/PA

Lineker has been outspoken in his criticism of England so far this summer, with the 63-year-old refusing to hold back.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, he revealed Shearer had to leave the room they were watching the match in.

Shearer confirmed this, saying: "It was just desperation, it was desperate. They were so bad it was untrue."

He added: "They were miles off it, miles off it.

"They're nowhere near what we'd hoped and expected from England.

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"We're all waiting for us to improve and get better, for that spark."

And Lineker has now blasted England himself, branding the players 'lost souls' despite the remarkable comeback.

"Just look at the quality of the players that England actually have at their disposal," he said.

"But you've got to get something out of them.

"I look at them at the moment and I see a team that's like lost souls.

READ MORE:England star was 'disgusted' with Gareth Southgate during dramatic Euro 2024 win over Slovakia

"I don't think they really know what they're supposed to be doing, or what their jobs are, or how the team's supposed to be playing.

"I'm sure they have been told but it's whether they've bought into it.

"They're playing in a kind of format or style that is alien to most of them, because most of them play a high press, with dynamic, electric short passing football [for their clubs].

"We've not seen any of that. So I actually feel for the players a little bit.

"You can see that they are trying their nuts off. They are running, chasing and doing all those things.

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England Slovakia Gareth Southgate

England boss Gareth Southgate has come under fire with the Three Lions struggling in their 2-1 win over Slovakia

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"There's absolutely no lack of effort or commitment but they look a little bit lost."

England are, however, still in with a chance of going all the way.

They are a team relying on individuals to win them matches but remain unbeaten at the tournament so far.

And Southgate praised his side after they dug deep to get a result and reach the last eight of the competition.

“We showed the players a presentation about 1966 and how Geoff Hurst hadn’t played until the quarter-finals, and the difficult route that the team had had," he said.

Harry Kane England Slovakia

Harry Kane popped up with the winner as England beat Slovakia at Euro 2024

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“All along the players that have come into the games have had a big impact, they’ve been ready, they’ve trained well, and all of the guys that came on played important roles either in creating the goals, steadying the ship.

“We want to be better. I’m not going to hide from that, but the spirit and the character was there for everybody to see, and we’re still in there fighting.”

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