Anderton played alongside Southgate at Euro 96, but wnats to see a lot more from his old friend's England team this summer
(Image credit: Getty Images)
England fans have been infuriated with the way their national team has playing during Euro 2024.
Despite reaching the last-16 as Group C winners, England have won only one game – against Serbia in their opener – with draws against Denmark and Slovenia thereafter. There is no clear game plan in possession and fans have grown increasingly frustrated as manager Gareth Southgate largely sticks with the same starting XI. The same players started the first two matches, before Conor Gallagher replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold to little effect in the latter bore draw.
While the reaction of some supporters has been overblown, even Southgate's own former England team-mates are beginning to demand more.
"I mean, it comes down to Gareth in the end," former England and Tottenham Hotspur winger Darren Anderton tells FourFourTwo on behalf of William Hill. "He picks the team and everything else. I think it's pretty obvious that the team isn't playing with any confidence, there's no movement. It's almost like watching walking football at times and it's very easy to defend against."
VIDEO: Alan Shearer Explains How England Could Have Won The Euros
For Anderton, there has to be change in Sunday's last-16 game, possibly against the Netherlands.
"We get all know that, with the talent we possess in that front five or six, playing the way we have been is unthinkable to be honest. When you put that sort of talent together on the pitch, it's the manager's job to get the best out of them.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Roy Keane wants to see more of Cole Palmer for England at Euro 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)
"We get to watch them every week in the Premier League. We know what they're capable of and, right now, we're watching different players. That's the worry. Now I also understand that, for Gareth, it's all about winning or getting results and getting to the next phase, which we've done. But we need more than that, because to merely limp through football matches with this crop of players is a shame.
"That's not the way to go. This is a squad capable of entertaining football fans and we know they're capable of that."
Ed is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, he’s been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngster’s move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegan’s playing career.
