Gary Lineker has defended his comments about England during Euro 2024 in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s resignation as manager.
The former England striker was criticised by captain Harry Kane after describing the team’s performances during the group stage as “shit”.
Speaking on the latest episode of his The Rest Is Football podcast with Micah Richards on Wednesday, Lineker accused journalists of trying to “put a wedge between us and the players and management”.
“I’ve actually had journalists come on [contacting me] saying, do you think it’s because of what you said on The Rest Is Football in the start of the tournament [that Southgate resigned]? Honestly… I mean, just the silliness of it.”
England finished top of their group and were unbeaten at that stage but a 1-0 win over Serbia, followed by low-scoring draws against Denmark and Slovenia fell far below the standards expected of the pre-tournament favourites.
“We were analytical. We were critical at times because you can’t say when a team is not playing very well that they played well,” Lineker added.
“If they played awfully, you say they played awfully. And they did in the earliest part of the tournament. There’s no question about that.
“But then to try and make it that that’s the reason, the criticism is the reason he’s gone. It’s not that. It’s not that at all.
“We know, we speak to the players and they totally understand where it’s coming from. And obviously, the one thing we’ve always wanted to do is be fair. And I think we’ve been unquestionably fair on England, there’s no doubt about that.”
Speaking during the tournament, in which England eventually lost to Spain in Sunday’s final, Kane urged Lineker and his podcast co-hosts Richards and Alan Shearer to “take a step back” and remember the power their words can carry.
“What ex-players or ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise is it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment,” Kane said.
“I always feel like they have a responsibility – I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player that a lot of players look up to that. People do listen to them and people do care what they say.”
Southgate also spoke movingly after England had reached the semi-finals about how much the criticism – from fans as well as pundits – had hurt.
“We all want to be loved right? When you’re doing something for your country and you’re a proud Englishman and you don’t feel that back it’s hard and when all you read is criticism, it’s hard,” he said.