In an interesting twist, Gary Lineker found himself at the center of a debate sparked by Alan Shearer.
The controversy arose after Lineker shared his surprisingly positive take on England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
Shifting from his earlier blunt assessment of England being “s***” against Denmark, which drew sharp rebukes from current players, Lineker had a much more favorable view this time.
Speaking on his podcast, The Rest Is Football, Lineker expressed optimism about England’s performance, noting improvements and increased energy, particularly in the second half.
Interestingly, Lineker admitted to having a few glasses of red wine before the recording.
Lineker emphasized that he saw signs of progress.
“I think there were signs in that performance that I quite liked.
In the second half, I thought you could see that if this team continue to play a high press, chances will come,” he remarked.
He suggested that Slovenia’s cautious approach might have made England’s efforts look better but still felt there were genuine positives.
One player that caught Lineker’s eye was Cole Palmer.
He praised Palmer, suggesting he could be the most talented among the young players.
However, he also noted some issues, like the imbalance on the left side and the delayed substitution of Anthony Gordon, which he found baffling.
At this juncture, Alan Shearer chimed in, suggesting Lineker’s more positive spin might be due to a fear of criticism after his harsh comments on the Denmark game.
“If I was a cynic, one would say one was frightened of getting criticised again,” Shearer remarked.
Harry Kane responded to Lineker’s initial criticism by stressing the difficulty of ignoring such remarks, especially for newer players.
He acknowledged the responsibility of ex-players-turned-pundits to be honest but also to remember the challenges of wearing the England shirt.
Bowen’s Surprise
Jarrod Bowen expressed surprise at the intensity of Lineker’s language, admitting he expected a more PG-rated podcast.
However, he respected the pundits’ rights to their opinions, given their experience at a high level.
Lineker Stands His Ground
Despite Shearer’s insinuations, Lineker denied being scared of criticism.
“Me? Frightened of getting criticised? Never in my life,” he asserted.
He reiterated his honest assessment of the game, highlighting his disappointment with the first half and the team’s conservative approach.
