Gary Lineker has accused Gareth Southgate of 'insulting' England players ahead of their Euro 2024 showdown with Slovenia on Tuesday.
It's been a subdued start to the competition for the Three Lions so far, leading to criticism from many fans and pundits alike.
England were poor in their 1-0 win over Serbia on matchday one, relying on a powerful header from Jude Bellingham to secure the win.
And they were flat in their 1-1 draw with Denmark on Tuesday, too, with Harry Kane seeing his goal cancelled out by Sporting Lisbon star Morten Hjulmand.
Gary Lineker has accused Gareth Southgate of 'insulting' England players ahead of their Euro 2024 showdown with Slovenia on Tuesday
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After the fixture at the Frankfurt Arena, Southgate said he was using Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield as an 'experiment' in the absence of Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips was left out of the squad after toiling during a dire loan spell at West Ham, having joined from Manchester City in January.
And Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, has now claimed Southgate has 'insulted' his players with his comments.
"It's insulting to some of the players that are there, and also it's wrong," he said.
"There are players in that squad that could do it."
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England have Kobbie Mainoo waiting in the wings, with the youngster shining for Manchester United last term.
And Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is another option, having made the squad on the back of a fine run of form.
Lineker continued: "Even the young players he's brought, in, Adam Wharton could do it.
"Kobbie Mainoo could probably do it. Bellingham could play.
"The players just need instructions, players need to understand what their jobs are."
Alan Shearer, also appearing on the podcast, was in agreement with Lineker.
"If we've been relying on Kalvin Phillips for the last however many years, then that is very worrying to me," said the Newcastle icon.
"I didn't understand his comment at all."
And Lineker added: "That was very strange.
"Inside he [Alexander-Arnold] will be sick."
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England boss Gareth Southgate has been using Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield as an 'experiment' ahead of Slovenia Euro 2024 showdown
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Phillips has been a regular for England at major tournaments under Southgate.
He formed a brilliant partnership with Declan Rice at the last European Championships, back in 2021, with the pair helping the Three Lions make the final of the competition.
But Phillips has paid the price after struggling at West Ham, while his future at Manchester City is now up in the air.
Ian Wright, meanwhile, also criticised Southgate for his comments on Phillips - insisting he was wrong to air them publicly.
"Listening to Gareth, he mentioned about Kalvin Phillips and he's the only one in the country who can play that role, I don't believe that," he said.
Kalvin Phillips failed to make the England squad for Euro 2024 after struggling for West Ham
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"I believe Adam Wharton can play it. I think Kobbie Mainoo can play it as well.
"You've picked them. Now we're in a situation where it's not desperation because we've got four points, but we're in a place where we need something different, we need to change something."
