Jubilant Germans put the boot into England today and said: ‘You’re good on paper…but football is played on grass’ after Gareth Southgate’s side turned in a lacklustre performance against Denmark.
Despite a host of star names, the Three Lions have so far failed to impress at Euro 2024.
And after their flat 1-1 draw with Denmark last night locals in Frankfurt were unable to hide their glee.
Fritz Decher, 69, joked: ‘There’s always been a healthy rivalry between Germany and England so when you’re not doing well it’s good for us.
‘I remember 1966 and the goal that should have never been allowed. So the fact that England haven’t impressed yet is not losing me any sleep.’
The German press seemed equally as satisfied by the poor English showing against the Danes, with BILD labelling Thursday night’s outing as a ‘Kane Crisis’.
Decher continued: ‘England were the favourites before the tournament started but so far they’ve looked very average.
‘There’s still time of course, and England may get stronger but as a German I have to say I like it when England loses.’
Miriam Kraschinski, 40, said: ‘A lot was expected of England and so far you haven’t been playing well.
‘England fans are a lot like the Germans, they are always very disappointed when the team doesn’t win.
‘But I used to play golf at a top level and no athlete ever wants to do badly. They’re paid well but at the end of the day they are only human.
‘Germany were knocked out by England last time around so there isn’t much sympathy for them.’
Soeren Stiefel, 40, said: ‘Nobody can understand why England have started so badly.
‘You’ve won one game and drawn another but you were lucky to get all three points against Serbia.
‘For a team with so many good attacking players – like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham- you’ve played really defensively.
‘Germany hasn’t had a strong team for a few years and nothing was expected of them but so far they’ve played excellent.
‘The opposite is true of England. You were expected to go far and play brilliant football but it’s not happened yet. You haven’t turned up.’
Patrick Reiss, 38, added: ‘England fans always say it’s coming home – but it won’t be if you carry on playing like you have so far.
‘You have an embarrassment of riches but nobody is standing out for you in the games I’ve watched.
‘I thought England were one of the strongest sides but I think if Germany plays you later in the tournament we have nothing to fear.’
The startling assessment of the Three Lions’ performance so far on the continent comes as European press hammered England after they were held to a very unconvincing draw by the Danes last night.
Spanish newspaper Marca blasted the Three Lions’ woeful performance on Friday morning, leading with the headline: ‘England smell rotten’.
The outlet also wrote a separate piece ridiculing a prediction that England would win the European Championship, which was made ahead of the tournament by a psychic who claims to be related to Nostradamus.
‘Nostradamus’s prediction about the Euro Cup that at the moment sounds laughable,’ the mocking headline read.
Danish press delighted in the result, with national news outlet DR splashing a quote from defender Joakim Mæhle across the website that read: ‘We made one of the world’s best teams afraid of us’.
Meanwhile, French media laid into the Three Lions in typical fashion, with newspaper L’Equipe slamming England’s players in their post-match ratings.