England's performance has not been convincing.

England have virtually secured their place in the knockout round after a 1-1 draw against Denmark in their second match of Group C. Prior to that, they had beaten Serbia 1-0. However, their lifeless and lackluster performance against Denmark left English football experts and fans alike deeply disappointed.

Former England striker Alan Shearer called it a poor performance from his team. He said: “I didn’t think England were under too much pressure going into EURO 2024, but now they’re about to really feel it. The team was booed after the game, fans left within a minute of the match ending, which shows the fans’ disappointment.”

England fans – known for their passionate support – rushed out of the Frankfurt Arena as soon as the match ended, while Danish supporters lingered for a long time to celebrate with the players.

"I don't know if they're supposed to be playing like this," said former England defender Micah Richards. "They're slow, they need more energy and they need to play more aggressively," he added.

In the first half, only Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka regularly moved into the opponent's half, while many Danish players remained mostly stationary in England's half.

England were fortunate to get one point against Denmark. Photo: UEFA

English football experts have questioned why players who are so good at pressing at clubs like Liverpool and Man City play so defensively when wearing the England shirt.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has stressed that the current Three Lions lack balance in their playing style, preventing players from showcasing their best qualities as they do at their clubs. "That's baffling and worrying," Ferdinand commented.

English fans have been collectively criticizing their team on social media.

"Southgate is struggling because he only knows how to play underdog football. That's why the England team plays as if they're in a relegation battle in League Two, despite having the strongest squad in the league," one person posted on social media X.

"The England team played slowly, without emotion, and couldn't move the ball smoothly," another comment shared. Meanwhile, another England fan emphasized that their team "played to avoid defeat, not to win."

This dismal performance is reminiscent of many of England's matches over the years. At EURO 2020, England also drew with Scotland in their second match, then reached the final and lost to Italy.

According to Shearer, for that to happen again at EURO 2024, coach Gareth Southgate needs to make changes. One of those is whether Southgate will continue "experimenting" with playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield. The Liverpool defender played very poorly against Denmark and was substituted in the 53rd minute by Conor Gallagher.

In the group stage match, England will face Slovenia – a team that has 2 points after two draws against Denmark and Serbia.

Overall, England seem to have secured their place in the next round, but with their lackluster performances so far, fans are worried they will be eliminated early in the knockout stage.

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