Former England defender Jamie Carragher has defended Gareth Southgate after the recent poor run under the Three Lions manager.
Southgate's team were relegated from the UEFA Nations League with a game to spare, having failed to score from open play in any of their first five matches. Some pride was restored against Germany at Wembley on Monday night, but a late Kai Havertz equaliser for the visitors ensured the Euro 2020 finalists remained winless.
Recent form has seen the pressure on England increase ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, where Southgate's team will face Iran, the United States and Wales in the group stage. However, Carragher - who played for his country at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments - has suggested some of the critics have short memories.
"You would think England had won numerous tournaments considering the stick Southgate is getting!" Carragher tweeted. "It had been s**** for years before he got the job. Big Sam [Allardyce] had the job before him!!"
One reply suggested the difference now is the performance in relation to quality, accusing the former Liverpool captain of being "scared to hype a golden generation". The ex-defender disagreed, though, arguing those in the current squad are not at the level of those who failed to go the distance in previous tournaments.
"One or two players at the most from this current team would get into the 2002/06 team and the same with 1996/98," Carragher argued. When quizzed on Southgate's CV in comparison to that of Allardyce, meanwhile, he said "Big Sam has achieved more in management, but England having a manager who plays direct/percentage football is not right".
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England were among the stand-out performers in qualifying for the upcoming World Cup. No other European nation went unbeaten in a six-team qualifying group, while the record of 39 goals in 10 games was the best on the continent.
Friendly victories over Cote d'Ivoire and Switzerland followed, but Southgate's team have since struggled in the Nations League. They earned just three points across six matches against Italy, Hungary and Germany, while three of the four goals they scored came in the final game.
Southgate led England to the semi-finals in Russia four years ago, before reaching the final of Euro 2020 on home soil. Before the former Middlesbrough boss took over, predecessor Roy Hodgson had overseen a World Cup group stage exit in 2014 as England went home with just one point.
A number of Southgate's selections have been debated over the last week, not least his decision to start Harry Maguire with the centre-back out of favour at Man Utd. However, the manager explained his stance on the £80m man after he conceded a penalty against Germany.
"I know everyone will focus on Harry but there were some very important moments that Harry delivered during the two matches," Southgate said. "Luke Shaw was another example of somebody [who delivered moments], he’s an outstanding footballer.
"So what do we do? Not pick Luke Shaw because he’s not playing enough football or do we pick a player who can do what we saw tonight?
"That’s always going to raise debate but I think in these moments we’ve got to back our best and our most experienced players unless we’re in a situation where it’s almost untenable and impossible to pick them."
