Gareth Southgate's best man has blasted TV pundits who have criticised the England boss ahead of tonight's Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain.
The Three Lions manager has come under fire for his tactics at the tournament, with the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer particularly critical.
England are just 90 minutes away from winning a first major trophy since the World Cup, with that triumph coming all the way back in 1966.
And Southgate's best man at his wedding, Andy Woodman, has now made his feelings clear.
Gareth Southgate is preparing his England players for their Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain tonight
PA
“The criticism has been disgusting," he told The Sun.
“When I see the ex-team-mates, pundits and journalists Gareth knows well — and he’s given them access to him and the team — suddenly saying things for clickbait or for their own agendas, that’s not right.
“He’s the most successful manager in England’s history.
"We know Sir Alf Ramsey won a trophy — and Gareth hasn’t yet — but back-to-back Euro finals and a World Cup semi is still phenomenal."
Prior to Southgate's appointment back in 2016, England were a team in crisis.
They were poor at the European Championships that year, crashing out of the tournament to Iceland in the round of 16.
And Woodman was keen to remind everybody just how poor England were before the arrival of his close friend.
“People forget the national team was previously so detached from the country, it was horrific," he added.
“We had years where we were so disconnected, but now have a team we’re proud of and manager we should be proud of.
“Gareth is patriotic and gets it — and yet people want to criticise.
“One or two TV pundits should be looking back at what they’ve said and be ashamed of themselves.
“In one breath their criticism surprises me – but in the second I look at them and think, ‘none of you have managed’ so they’re speaking about something they don’t really know.
"These ex-players were in an era that’s different to now, the game has changed.”
Woodman believes Southgate won't be too bothered by the criticism he's received.
He does feel, however, that the 53-year-old will be more concerned about the impact it will have had on his nearest and dearest.
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Gareth Southgate's best man has blasted TV pundits who have criticised the England boss ahead of tonight's Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain.
PA
“Gareth will be more worried about that and want to protect them," he said.
“He’s got a wife, two lovely children and parents that followed him all over the world in his career.
“People need to seriously think about that when they say hurtful and personal things about Gareth, including the idiots on social media.
“He’s a man who creates a culture of love, care and respect, not one where people say nasty things about one another. We’re all trying our best.
“If it’s not good enough, we don’t need to be nasty about it or destructive.
Gareth Southgate has been criticised by TV pundits despite guiding England to the final of Euro 2024
PA
“When I lose a game, I only have a quarter of Bromley on my back, Gareth has the whole nation.”
England's clash with Spain kicks off at 8pm.
