Wayne Rooney has criticised England fans for booing Gareth Southgate's side after their goalless draw against the United States.
Supporters in Qatar made their feelings known after the Three Lions were held to a tedious draw in Friday's World Cup clash. There were few exciting moments at the Al Bayt Stadium, and the result leaves England still fighting for a spot in the knockout stages.
Yet Southgate's side will progress if they avoid a heavy defeat to Wales at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday. Rooney, who famously slammed England fans for booing the team at the 2010 World Cup, has urged supporters to take a more positive view.
"There was booing at the Al Bayt stadium at full-time in England’s 0-0 draw with the USA - which was crazy because the team being jeered had just more or less qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup," wrote former England captain Rooney in The Times.
"I know England fans expect a lot, but sometimes in our football culture we can be stubborn about recognizing the qualities of the opposition. This is definitely true when it comes to football in the USA. It is better than most people in England think.
"The standard of American players and American coaching is high and increasing in quality all the time. The USA are a good side with a good manager and they play with an exceptional energy which can make them difficult opponents for any team.
"Not to accept that is simply English prejudice. If England had just drawn with Denmark, fans would not be booing, would they?"
Do you think England fans are entitled to boo? Let us know in the comments below!
England are currently fifth in FIFA's world rankings, 11 places ahead of the US. Denmark, meanwhile, are 10th. Brazil, who were the pre-tournament favourites, are at the top of the rankings, followed by Belgium in second, Argentina in third and France in fourth.
It's not the first time Rooney has hit out at England's boo boys. He did so after England's dismal goalless draw against Algeria at the World Cup in South Africa.
"Nice to see your own fans booing you," he famously said down a camera. Like Friday's draw against the US, the Algeria game was England's second of that World Cup campaign.
That doesn't bode well for Southgate's side - if you believe in omens - because the Three Lions were knocked out of that tournament by Germany in the last 16.
England were expected to go far under Fabio Capello in South Africa after winning all of their qualifiers. Capello side included Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry - while Rooney had scored 34 goals the season before that World Cup.
Funnily enough, Rooney used his previous column in The Times to admit his regret at the Algeria incident. "Obviously, I shouldn’t have said what I did," he wrote. "It wasn’t a dig about England fans in general, just frustration at what happened on the day."
