BBC pundit Alan Shearer has defended himself and Gary Lineker ahead of England's Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain on Sunday night.
The Three Lions will step out at the Olympiastadion looking to finally win a major trophy, having beaten the Netherlands 2-1 in their semi-final clash on Wednesday.
Both Shearer and Lineker were damning in their criticism of England earlier in the tournament.
They took aim at the Three Lions for being particularly abject in group stage matches with Serbia, Switzerland and Slovenia.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer has defended himself and Gary Lineker ahead of England's Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain on Sunday night
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But Shearer believes their criticism didn't overstep the mark, despite some fans feeling they were too strong.
"A lot has been made of the noise around England at this tournament, and how the players have been responding to their critics, myself and the other BBC pundits included," he wrote for the BBC.
"When you analyse it, however, no-one has really said anything different to what the squad have said themselves when they have not played well.
"Like us, they knew they could do better… and they have improved.
"Gareth said himself that the performance against Switzerland was England’s best so far, and then said the same again after the semi-final.
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"You can never please everyone, though.
"I know there are lots of people on social media still questioning Kane, saying he should not start against Spain, but I thought he played well in the first half against the Dutch, when he had one shot brilliantly saved."
Shearer does believe it can be 'draining' watching England, however.
Though they're unbeaten, their overall performances have failed to light up the competition.
England were fortunate to pick up five points from a possible nine in the group stages.
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They relied on a piece of brilliance from Jude Bellingham to get past Slovakia, with Harry Kane netting the winner that night.
And England had to beat Switzerland via penalties, with all five Three Lions stars converting from 12 yards.
Shearer added: "We’ve got players who have changed games from the bench and, dare I say it, we’ve had a bit of luck along the way – like when Xherdan Shaqiri hit the woodwork in the final seconds of our quarter-final against the Swiss, or the awful penalty decision that went our way against the Netherlands.
"Those sort of moments cost us in the past – I remember watching Chris Waddle hitting the post in extra-time of our World Cup semi-final against West Germany in 1990 and being on the pitch when Darren Anderton did the same at Euro ’96 – so it’s nice when things go our way.
"Oh, and we have showed we can play a bit, too.
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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have both been critical of England's performances at Euro 2024 this summer
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"As I said in my commentary for Radio 5 Live, the way we responded to going a goal down in Dortmund against the Dutch was perfect, really.
"England upped the tempo and the pace of our passing, showed energy and intent and really stretched Ronald Koeman’s side in the first half by playing high up the pitch.
"It was definitely the best we have played at these Euros, and was exactly what I’d been waiting for from this team.
Alan Shearer believes England are capable of beating Spain in the Euro 2024 final
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"I know we also had to suffer, for example in the second half when we dropped back and lost our intensity, but you are never going to control games for 90 minutes at this level.
"It can be draining watching England with the way games ebb and flow, and I am sure it will be the same story for spells against Spain, but tactically we will be ready for whatever they throw at us."
