England fans have been left in dismay after the Gareth Southgate’s side drew 0-0 in their crucial clash against Slovenia which saw them limp into the Euro 2024 knock out stages.
The Three Lions’ manager was met with jeers and boos from the crowd and even had beer cups thrown at him following a ‘boring’ performance at Cologne Stadium in Germany – with one supporter seemingly falling asleep in the stands.
Even the WAGs watching the game in person were forced to scroll on their phones for entertainment after it became clear the team would not be scoring any goals.
Some devoted fans, who have made the costly journey to follow their team across Germany, questioned whether they would stay on to watch as England any longer as they doubt the team will even make it past the knock outs.
England had already made it through to the last-16 stage of Euro 2024 with a game to spare but their result against Slovenia has meant they will arguably face an easier road to the finals by avoiding the likes of France and Germany.
They will now either face the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey or Georgia at 5pm on Sunday, depending on what happens in Group F tomorrow.
Following the game, England players were consoled by their emotional family members and glamorous WAGs.
Jude Bellingham’s parents looked close to tears as they comforted the midfielder in the stands after the team’s ‘abysmal’ sleepwalk into the Euro 2024 knock out stages at Cologne Stadium.
Stunning Dani Dyer, who donned a white England shirt, sympathetically leaned on her partner Jarrod Bowen following the game as they appeared to engage in a serious conversation.
Ollie Wilkins was greeted with a kiss from his long-term girlfriend Ellie Anderson in the stands, while Harry Kane beamed as he gave his wife a huge bear hug and draped a red jacket over her shoulders.
A fed-up looking Phil Foden was seen sat between his mother Claire Rowlands and father as the stadium cleared while Cole Palmer was given plenty of hugs from his family members.
During the game, goalie Jordan Pickford’s wife Meghan was seen reading her phone, as well as Wilkins’ partner.
Bukayo Sako’s girlfriend Tolami Benson also appeared to look bored as she treated herself to an ice cream mid game and starring up at the crowd above.
One fan Steve Walsh, 21, of Aston, Birmingham, said: ‘We were so boring and Slovenia were supposed to be the underdogs. We looked scared. Southgate needs to wake up and realise he has got the best players in the world.
‘We were like rabbits caught in car headlights. I was behind the England goal in the second half and it was groan after groan nearly everytime we had the ball. What has happened?’
With a flag of St George painted on her face, events manager Charlotte Dale, 32, from Nottingham, said: ‘We may not have won but we’re into the last 16 as group winners and we avoid Germany.
‘There was a lot of negativity in the run up to this game and hopefully this will go some way to silencing that noise.
‘It frustrates me that all of us – the fans, the pundits, everyone – seem to have no middle ground as far as England is concerned.
‘If we win we’re the best in the world and should be beating everyone 5-0. If we lose we’re suddenly ‘s***’, as Gary Lineker said.
‘The truth is probably always somewhere in between. Most people would have taken a group win before the tournament. No-one will want to play us.’
Fans in the UK had ditched work early to bag the best seats in local boozers and screening venues as they remained hopeful about their team’s shaky fate – but were left bitterly ‘bored’ and disappointed.
Earlier on Tuesday, another distracting off-field drama created fury in the England camp as Kieran Trippier’s wife shared a cryptic message on social media.
Charlotte Trippier, 33, wrote in an Instagram story yesterday on the eve of the Slovenia game: ‘Sooner or later you get over the s*** you swore you’d never get over and it’s the best feeling in the world.’
The profile belonging to her Newcastle star husband did not come up in the list of accounts she was following this morning, leading social media users to claim she had unfollowed him – although Trippier still follows her.
Charlotte has decided to remain in the UK with her three children during the tournament, while WAGs that have travelled to Germany include Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner and – controversially – his former lover Lauryn Goodman.
Lauryn, 33, became embroiled in a paternity scandal earlier this year when it emerged the footballer, 34, had fathered her ten-month-old daughter while being married to Annie, 32.
After the full-time whistle, fans could even be seen appearing to throw empty cups at the England manager as he went to clap the travelling supporters.
England fans who watched the game at Pop Brixton in South London were left fuming at Gareth Southgate’s negative tactics.
Chris Appleton, 43, from Hove, Sussex, said: ‘Southgate doesn’t learn from past mistakes, he always plays Foden on the left. He doesn’t know his best team yet and we’re now in the knock-out rounds. It’s worrying.
‘Even though the subs he made were good, he hasn’t got the guts to start any of them. I can’t see us winning the tournament because we don’t seem to be growing as a team.
‘We’ve won the group and have a favourable side of the draw but I’m not confident going into any game now and it seems like it’ll be another wasted opportunity.’
Christian Kemp, 46, from Tulse Hill, London was in equally unforgiving mood.
He joked: ‘Same old Safegate! He never mixes it up, just sticks to the same tired old tactics.
‘You’ve got to attack teams like Slovenia, games like this are such a good opportunity to turn it on. All the confidence has drained from me. I think the first knock-out game is 50-50 as to whether we’ll win
‘We’ve not been tested by one of the top teams yet. I can’t see us getting a result against one at the moment.
‘The only slight positivity is that we didn’t concede tonight. But with all that attacking flair we have we’ve not been anywhere near good enough further up the pitch. The subs came on too late and Ollie Watkins remained on the bench when Kane looked tired and languid.’
In Magaluf, while a party atmosphere prevailed at half time, with the crowd singing Sweet Caroline and Vindaloo, the full-time whistle was met with complete silence in the resort’s fanzone.
Two young England fans agreed that the only answer was to find a new manager. ‘We had possession most of the game but did nothing with it,’ said Jack Richards, 18 from Leighton Buzzard.
‘Southgate needs to go – that’s the only answer I can see. He doesn’t seem to believe in himself and he’s not taking his own decisions.’
His friend Tommy Beerman, also 18, added: ‘The team is ok he just needs to play people in their normal positions. There’s so much potential there, but he doesn’t seem to be getting the best out of them.’
After the match ended, most England fans walked away in search of more fun in the bars and nightclubs on the 600m long ‘strip’ which is a magnet for young Brits.
‘We should do well but England have already qualified so they may lay back. I’m confident England will win. I say 2-1 England.
‘Whatever happens I don’t have to get up early tomorrow because I’m not working at the moment, so I’ll be having the day off!’