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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

8 England players booed by own fans and what happened next after Harry Maguire targeted

Harry Maguire had an evening to forget against Ivory Coast on Tuesday after being booed by England fans for his performances at Manchester United this season.

The centre-back, 29, has failed to impress at Old Trafford recently, yet his form for the Three Lions is consistently good. Maguire was pivotal to England reaching the Euro 2020 last summer and the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia four years ago.

"I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke," said England manager Gareth Southgate at full-time.

"What he's done for us, the way he's performed for England has been phenomenal. I don't get it. We're either all in this together or we're not.

"He's in an England shirt, not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when he's played at the level he has and put in the performances for us that he has, it should be total commitment behind him. I don't get that at all.

"For his performance, pretty faultless really, he stepped out from the back well, he was involved in the second as well. We're a team, we're totally united, we recognise everyone has difficult moments, but he's a top player and he'll come through it."

Although Maguire wouldn't have enjoyed the jeers, he isn't the first England player to be booed by his own fans. Here, Mirror Football remembers eight occasions when a specific star was targeted by the Three Lions - including an infamous rant by Wayne Rooney.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch was booed by England after failing to score in 19 consecutive Liverpool outings (PA Archive/PA Images)

Perhaps the most similar example to Maguire, Crouch was jeered by England fans in 2005 when he came off the bench during a World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Crouch was enduring an awful goal drought for new club Liverpool - failing to score in 19 consecutive games - and many believed he didn't deserve a spot in England's squad. Like Maguire, though, he did well for England - scoring 22 goals in 42 senior outings.

"We have got great fans but there should be a responsibility on their part not to give us too much stick, especially when it's directed towards the younger players," said Frank Lampard. "You can go too far with it and what happened to Peter was unfortunate.

'"There has to be a line drawn under it and we have to get behind people. I just hope it doesn't affect his confidence. He's a good player, he'll be in the [World Cup] squad and he'll be a good player for England."

Crouch remained in the England squad until 2010.

David Beckham

David Beckham was crucified by the press after England's World Cup exit in 1998 (Getty)

Although Beckham retired an England legend - boasting 115 senior caps and six years as captain - he wasn't always appreciated by the public.

At the World Cup in 1998, he was sent off during England last 16 clash against Argentina for kicking Diego Simeone. Glenn Hoddle's side went on to lose on penalties and Beckham became society's No1 target, with a hanging effigy seen outside of a pub.

By today's standards the press were particularly harsh. Our own front page read "10 heroic lions, one stupid boy" and published an infamous dartboard of Beckham, which included Diego Maradona, Chris Evans and Paul Daniels. Times have changed, thankfully.

"I made a mistake in ‘98 and the reaction at the time was pretty brutal," admitted Beckham in 2020. "If social media was around when I was going through that time, it would have been a whole different story, but I was lucky, I had a support system within Man Utd, the manager, and obviously family.

"Did I feel it was ok at the time to go to someone and say I need help? No, because it was a different era, and I just felt that I had to keep it all in and deal with it myself. Whereas now I’m the one preaching to my kids and to other kids that I talk to out there that it’s really important to talk. We all know now that it's OK not to be OK."

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole went on to win more than 100 caps for England after being booed (Getty)

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole was booed by England fans at Wembley in 2009 after a string of public allegations, including infidelity. The former Arsenal man was married to Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Tweedy between 2006 and 2010.

"It was difficult when they booed," admitted Cole at the time. "I'm a normal person, I'm just like you and just like everyone else – I have feelings and thoughts. So of course it hurt, I'm not going to sit here and say it didn't. But you have to get on with it.

"It happens in football, you are loved one day and hated the next . You have to get on with it and that's what I've done. I've played the best I have for Chelsea so far. The Chelsea fans are happy and I'd like the same with my country."

Cole recovered from the boos, going on to become England's most capped full-back with 107 senior appearances. He's also the assistant manager of the U21 side.

Joe Gomez

Joe Gomez was booed following his row with Raheem Sterling in 2019 (Getty Images)

Liverpool defender Gomez was booed by England fans during a game against Montenegro in November 2019 following an altercation with Raheem Sterling at training. Sterling was dropped for the Euro 2020 qualifier, despite Gomez remaining part of the squad.

The awkward situation was quickly resolved by Sterling, who took to social media to support Gomez. "To all the England fans... it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault," wrote Sterling.

"Joe hasn’t done anything wrong and for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard. Especially after a difficult week for him to be booed when he came on tonight was wrong. I’ve taken full responsibility and accepted the consequence. I felt as though I had to say this get home safe every one."

Sterling had become a leader in the England set-up since - captaining the team against Ivory Coast on Tuesday - while Gomez has only picked up three caps since the start of 2020 due a serious knee injury and lack of game time in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney was often booed by England fans (Getty)

England went into the World Cup in 2010 with plenty of hope, yet they endured a terrible campaign. After lacklustre draws with the US and Algeria - as well as a narrow win against Slovenia - the Fabio Capello's side were dumped out following a 4-1 loss to Germany.

The dullest moment of the tournament was their drab goalless draw with Algeria. England fans booed the Three Lions in Cape Town, enraging Rooney. "Nice to see your home fans boo you," shouted the Man Utd star down a camera. "That's loyal supporters."

Rooney was subsequently apologised for his actions, later becoming England captain and earning 120 senior caps. Yet it wasn't the last time he was jeered. He was booed during England's poor 2-0 win against Malta in 2016, one of his final appearances for his country.

John Barnes

John Barnes is viewed as an England legend but was booed during a World Cup qualifier in 1994 (Mirrorpix)

Liverpool legend Barnes was booed by a section of England supporters at Wembley during a World Cup qualifier against San Marino in 1994. The Three Lions won 6-0. "It was tough," admitted Barnes in 2012. "The expectations were that we would score a lot of goals.

"We ended up winning comfortably, but the goals came late and by then there was a lot of frustration. They were being critical of me personally because I was a creative player, so I was being blamed for the fact we weren't scoring goals.

"Also there was something in the newspaper about me beforehand. Sometimes, depending on what has been in the newspapers before, certain fans will have a go at certain players."

Barnes' legacy was impacted by the incident. Many England fans regarded him as a legend for helping the country reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990 and his iconic rap in New Order's football tune "World in Motion".

John Terry

Wayne Bridge refused to shake John Terry's hand after allegations of an extra-marital affair (Getty Images)

Terry was booed by England fans during a friendly against Egypt in 2010 after allegations of an extra-marital affair with Wayne Bridge's former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. Although these allegations were denied, the Chelsea defender was stripped of the captaincy.

Rooney pleaded with fans not to jeer Terry ahead of the game, but his plea wasn't heard. "I've been in the team when a few players have been booed at Wembley and it's not nice - it doesn't send the right message," said Rooney.

"I hope he gets a good reception. When you are leading up to a World Cup, you want the fans behind us and giving us their full support because that will be really important."

Frank Lampard

Even Frank Lampard faced the wrath of England's boo boys (Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty)

Chelsea icon Lampard was booed during a friendly against Brazil in 2007 - a curtain raiser for the "new" Wembley - amid England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008. "It's part of playing for England, I suppose," said Lampard at the time, who went on to win 106 caps.

"This time last year, I had just won their player of the year twice on the spin - that's just how English football is. It's not helpful to the team or the players, and it can be a bit upsetting, but you have to be big enough to take it and I've got no problem with it.

"I've had much worse when I've gone back to West Ham. I can remember when people wanted David Beckham out of the team a few years ago, but he got a hero's reception against Brazil because he's a great player, he keeps working hard and he won them round."

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