England manager Gareth Southgate has ‘lost the dressing room’ claims Jamie O’Hara after thumping 4-0 Nations League loss to Hungary… as he insists the Three Lions have ‘flopped at the last hurdle’ in the last two tournaments
- England suffered their heaviest defeat at home since 1928 against Hungary
- Gareth Southgate received a negative reception from fans during the 4-0 loss
- Jamie O’Hara believes Southgate has lost the dressing room going by the defeat
Gareth Southgate has lost the England dressing room according to Jamie O’Hara, after the Three Lions suffered their worst defeat at home since 1928.
England ended their miserable international camp with a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Hungary at the Molineux Stadium on Tuesday night.
It ends a run of four games where they were unable to pick up a victory, also suffering a 1-0 loss to Hungary away from home, and were held to draws by Italy and Germany.
Gareth Southgate’s England side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against Hungary on Tuesday
Jamie O’Hara believes Southgate has lost the dressing room going by their heavy defeat
Speaking on talkSport in response to a fan who suggested it was too early for Southgate’s position to be questioned, O’Hara responded: ‘Hold on, this isn’t about form.
‘We’ve had two major tournaments that we’ve flopped in at the last hurdle. Italy didn’t even qualify for the World Cup, a massive opportunity lost, and Southgate got it wrong on that day.
‘In the semi-final of the World Cup, we get knocked out from poor tactical decisions. This isn’t a friendly, this isn’t a Mickey Mouse cup, this is UEFA Nations League!.
‘It’s a tournament. We just got beat 4-0. We’re going to get relegated. We’re going to get relegated. England. Going to get relegated.’
He added: ‘Gareth Southgate is getting it wrong. In my opinion, after watching that, he’s lost the dressing room.’
O’Hara also hit out at Southgate tactically for ‘falling at the final hurdle’ in competitions
Southgate has arguably been England’s most successful manager since 1966 World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey in terms of their progression throughout tournaments.
However, both in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia in 2018, and Euro 2020 final against Italy, England squandered leads in both games – losing the latter in a crushing penalty shoot-out defeat.
After the poor start to their Nations League campaign, England are behind Hungary, Germany and Italy in their group, and are at real risk of relegation.
The Three Lions will get back together in September when they play Germany at home and Italy away.
Southgate was taunted with chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ and ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ during the match with Hungary.
England are at risk of being relegated in the Nations League after failing to win their games
He said after the match: ‘I knew the role before I took it. I would say it [fans’ opinion of him changing] has happened over 10 days not 11 months but I saw all my predecessors go through that and I know great people like Sir Bobby Robson what he had to go through and how he was viewed in the end on getting the team to a World Cup semi-final.
‘Football is emotional, people pay to come and watch, will give an opinion. The team weren’t able to deliver tonight, that’s my responsibility so if the flak comes my way I have to deal with that.
‘You won’t be the England manager, it’s not realistic to have the ride I’ve had for five years and not have bad nights, difficult nights, criticism, that’s part and parcel of the job. I understand tonight is a chastening experience.
‘We’ve not lost many football matches and when you lose so heavily, at home especially, but when you lose heavily with England it’s going to be very, very painful.
‘This group of players have been unbelievable for their country. It’s important people stick with them as they’ll be strong moving forward.’