Southgate fighting to turn jeers into cheers

Coach fears mood around England is turning toxic again after his side stumble into last 16

- Dan Kilpatrick

England 0

Slovenia 0

AFTER a turgid bore draw, Gareth Southgate was preoccupied not by Harry Kane's fitness or Jude Bellingham's form, but a deep sense of foreboding about the escalating mood towards himself and his England team.

In a sticky press conference room here in Cologne, Southgate suggested England were at risk of returning to the dark ages, warning that supporter hostility towards him was creating "an unusual environment" for the squad, who could lose the "fun" of representing their country.

There were loud boos from the England end at full time and, as Southgate went to acknowledge the supporters, who were magnificent at the Rhein Energie Stadion, there were more jeers and a couple of plastic cups thrown in his direction, although others applauded the manager.

"I understand the narrative towards me," he said. "That's better for the team than it being towards them. But it's creating an unusual environment to operate in. I've not seen any other team qualify and receive similar."

Asked what had changed, Southgate added: "Probably expectation. We've made England fun again and it's been very, very enjoyable for the players. We've got to be careful it stays that way."

Beyond England's progress on the pitch, Southgate's success has been in rebuilding the connection between players and fans, and ending the us-against-them dynamic with the media, to create a far more enjoyable environment for the squad.