Jamie Carragher has hit out at the England fans who turned on manager Gareth Southgate during Tuesday’s chastening defeat by Hungary.
The dismal Three Lions were thrashed 4-0 at Molineux to record their worst home loss since 1928 and worst result of any kind for 12 years.
A shocking performance summed up a terrible start to the new Nations League campaign for England, who are at serious risk of being relegated from the top tier of the Uefa competition.
A winless four-match run in 10 days at the end of the gruelling domestic season in which they failed to score from open play has also sparked plenty of World Cup panic with just two games - against Italy and Germany in September - now remaining before their Group B opener against Iran in Qatar in mid-November.
Despite leading England to their first major final since 1966 on home soil at the delayed European Championship last summer plus the semi-finals of the last World Cup in Russia, Southgate drew the ire of disgruntled England supporters at Molineux, with boos raining down from the stands along with chants of ‘you don't know what you're doing’.
And while he took responsibility for the result and terrible Nations League form while accepting that such criticism is part and parcel of the job, plenty of players and pundits quickly leapt to his defence, including captain Harry Kane.
Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also went to bat for Southgate on social media, writing on Twitter: “You don’t know what you’re doing” shut up you clowns. This manager has taken the country in two tournaments to the best positions since 1966.
“Also this idea that Southgate is holding this group back is nonsense, this squad is no better than 2004/6, 1996/98. Southgate has overachieved albeit with favourable draws. Rest up boys and come back to your normal level.”
Southgate also received the backing of triumphant opposite number Marco Rossi, who guided surprise Group A3 table-toppers Hungary to their first win in England for 60 years just seven days after seeing off the same opposition 1-0 in Budapest.
“You don’t know what you’re doing” shut up you clowns. This manager has taken the country in two tournaments to the best positions since 1966. #ENGvHUN
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 14, 2022
“I think also the English press everybody must be aware that sometimes this kind of results could happen,” Rossi told reporters, adding that he plans to celebrate a momentous victory by attending a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the Puskas Arena on Wednesday.
“In this match they did a lot. They maintained I think 65 per cent or more of ball possession, they create several options to score some goals.
“I know that losing 4-0 at home to Hungary (is hard to take) not against Brazil or Argentina. Even in that case, it would be for the English people it would be the same because losing at home 4-0 is difficult to be accepted by the crowd, by the press, by everybody.
“But I think that Southgate already proved to be a quite good coach. He put together quite a strong team. Tonight everything went in the wrong way for them but, still, they are absolutely on the top level.
“They must only follow the track that they were doing until now, were following until now, because I’m convinced they will give to you a lot of joy in the next world championship. I am sure about that.”
