'Strange' - Gary Lineker takes aim at Gareth Southgate because of two England players at Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate has faced some criticism
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Gary Lineker feels Gareth Southgate has given 'strange' instructions to both Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden after England's draw with Slovenia on Tuesday.
England finished top of their group after beating Serbia and two goalless draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
No other team in the Euros had a lower expected goals tally throughout the group stage with Southgate taking heavy criticism.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have scored England's only two goals, picking up where they left off in their debut campaigns with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.
Gareth Southgate has faced some criticism
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The midfielder is seen as England's main talisman through the middle, but Foden was named the Premier League Player of the Year having also played in the central position.
Foden has been pushed out to the left wing for the three group games, but has looked far more effective when he's drifted in more centrally.
However, Lineker finds it 'strange' that Southgate has allowed both Bellingham and Foden to continue switching positions throughout the game.
"I think he’s spoken to Bellingham and Foden and said, 'Right, OK, you keep swapping. One goes left and then one goes in the 10'," Lineker said.
"But that’s a strange thing to do, isn’t it, throughout the whole game?
"First half, and even in the second half, I saw sometimes Bellingham’s on the left-hand side.
"Jude, he’s had a bad night. Having had a great opening game, he’s struggled since.
"I think he chases lost causes a lot. Sometimes, you can see him sprinting.
Jude Bellingham has struggled since England's opening group game
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"I understand why because he’s so determined to help the team, but I think sometimes you’ve got to reserve your energy a little bit. But that’s experience. He’s only 20."
Foden has since left the England camp after their draw against Slovenia.
It's been reported that he flew back to the UK to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their third child.
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Phil Foden has flown back to the UK
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He's expected back in Germany in time for England's last-16 tie on Sunday.
But the Three Lions won't find out their opponent until after the final group games this evening.
England could face either the Netherlands or Slovenia depending on results involving Georgia and the Czech Republic.
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