England fans have backed under-fire manager Gareth Southgate as they prepare for the Three Lions’ crunch match with Slovakia tomorrow.
Southgate, 53, who has managed England since 2016, was booed and had objects thrown at him after the team’s goalless bore draw with Slovenia in Cologne.
A defeat tomorrow night is expected to result in the manager walking away from the role having failed to guide England to any silverware during his tenure.
But investment expert James Stevens, 35, from Solihull, said: ‘I think he has made so much progress with the team over the years and we should respect him for that.
‘I was in the crowd and watching the players clapping their families and I heard the booing and cups were thrown at Southgate.
England fans pictured with a personalised flag in Dusseldorf ahead of Sunday’s match against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen
England fans in Dusseldorf get ready for tomorrow’s crunch last 16 match
Three Lions supporters having fun in Dusseldorf ahead of a huge game on Sunday
Fans could be seen dancing outside bars in a sun-soaked Dusseldorf this weekend
‘It was totally wrong. Why come to Germany to throw things at our manager?
‘The reality is that these are frustrating times to be an England fan. But we are top of the group with five points.
‘We won our group. France didn’t, Belgium didn’t. We are in the right side of the draw for a reason. You make your own luck. ‘
Hayden Smith, 28, from Harlow, Essex, said: ‘Southgate has been a very successful manager.
‘He took England to the World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals in Russia and Qatar and to the final of this tournament the last time round.
‘He is a coach who doesn’t have an ego and has helped the team to grow together.
‘Win or lose, we should never show such disrespect to our manager. It is so out of order.’
Michael Dickens, 33, an IT consultant from Leeds, said: ‘It isn’t easy following England with regards to costs and time.
Beer cups were thrown at Southgate on Tuesday after England’s goalless draw with Slovenia
The manager seemed in good spirits in training today after a week of criticism
England supporters of all ages descended on the German city this weekend in anticipation for Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash
Three Lions supporters got on the beers at the start of a weekend which sees the Euros reach its knockout phase
The booze was flowing in Dusseldorf today as England fans got in the party mood ahead of a huge match
Many fanatics could be seen dancing around the city’s squares
‘It is depressing when we can’t even beat teams like Slovenia and give them too much respect.
‘But we have to respect the manager as he can only be responsible until the matches start, then it is down to the players.
‘There were only a few plastic cups thrown at him after the Slovenia match. But it never looks good when an England manager gets abuse which does seem the norm ultimately.’
Arsenal fan Joe Parker, 28, added: ‘I think Southgate has done a great job.
‘He is short on tactical ideas and that has shown in the matches so far.
‘Even if we win this tournament and we have a good chance as all the dangerous teams are in the other half of the draw, I think England does need a new manager.
‘I would like to see Mauricio Pochettino as the new England manager. He would be great with the younger players.’
Alex Bradbury, 32, from Worthing but who lives in New York, said : ‘We have been a little bit harsh on Southgate.
‘if you look at his record over the past few tournaments, he has got us far further than any other in the manager in recent times.
‘He has been playing a team with really boring football, but we did finish top of the group.
‘But there was absolutely no reason to abuse him and let alone throw things. ‘
West Ham fan Alex, an advertising executive, added:’History shows that England managers always end up becoming the villain.
‘If this is Southgate’s last tournament, we should perhaps learn from that and treat our future manager with respect.’
An England fan waving his flag om Gelsenkirchen, where tomorrow’s match takes place
Thousands of Three Lions supporters will descend on the city this weekend, which also hosted England’s first Euro 2024 game against Serbia
In Dusseldorf, fanatics guzzled lagers ahead of the knockout stage clash
Southgate has rejected the abuse and said he will protect his players first from all the ‘s*** flying around’.
Around 30,000 England fans are expected to be at tomorrow’s match in Gelsenkirchen for the round of 16 match with 6,500 Slovakian supporters.
Police have rated the match as ‘low risk’ and full-strength beer will be sold to fans. When England played Serbia at the same venue a fortnight ago, low alcohol ale was served to help prevent drunken behaviour.