Furious England fans launched beer cups at Gareth Southgate after the Three Lions drew 0-0 in their crucial clash against Slovenia which saw them sleepwalk into the Euro 2024 knock out stages.
Fans branded tonight’s match as ‘abysmal’ and ‘boring’ after England put on yet another mind-numbing performance at Cologne Stadium in Germany – with one supporter seemingly falling asleep in the stands.
The intense joy experienced by fans following Bukayo Saka‘s goal was quickly turned to despair after the right winger’s score was ruled offside in the first half.
Footage taken shortly after the game shows empty cups being lobbed at England manager Southgate by enraged supporters who booed the team off the pitch during their lap of honour.
Some England fans made obscene hand gestures and shouted at the coach as he applauded the supporters behind the goal.
The players started strong and kept possession of the ball in the first few minutes of the game but appeared nervous throughout as they wasted countless opportunities to score.
England had already made it through to the last-16 stage of Euro 2024 with a game to spare but their result against Slovenia would inevitably decide their knockout round fate and how easy or difficult their run-in to the final could be.
They will now either face the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey or Georgia at 5pm on Sunday, depending on what happens in Group F tomorrow.
Glamorous WAGs including Megan Pickford, Tolami Benson and Ellie Alderson looked both tense and optimistic as they cheered on their boys from the stands.
Footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows furious England fans lobbing empty cups at Gareth Southgate after the match
An England supporter at Cologne Stadium in Germany appears to fall asleep during the match between England and Slovenia
Gareth Southgate, Manager of England, applauds the fans after tonight’s match, but some throw empty beer cups at him
An England fan looks disappointed as she reacts to the match between England and Slovenia tonight
England fans in Greenwich, London, look annoyed after Saka’s goal was ruled offside in the first half of the game
Unimpressed England fans watch tonight’s matched against Slovenia in Cologne, Germany
Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticise the ‘boring’ and ‘abysmal’ performance by England against Slovenia tonight
Harry Kane of England embraces wife Katie Goodland in the stands, following the team’s draw against Slovenia
England’s Bukayo Saka reacts after his goal was disallowed during England’s match against Slovenia
Bukayo Saka of England celebrates what he thinks is the first goal before it is ruled out for offside
Football fans celebrate at Wembley Boxpark as England appear to score against Slovenia before the Saka’s goal was declared offside
An England fan during a screening of the Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia at The Big Shed at Trent Navigation in Nottingham
England fans at BOXPark Wembley in London react watching the Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia
Jude Bellingham during the Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia
England’s Bukayo Saka reacts after scoring a goal as it is disallowed following an offside decision
Jan Mlakar of Slovenia, Bukayo Saka of England, and Erik Janza of Slovenia in action during tonight’s clash between England and Slovenia
England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during England’s crucial clash against Slovenia at Cologne Stadium in Germany
Gareth Southgate talks with Kobbie Mainoo of England during tonight’s match against Slovenia
England captain Harry Kane during tonight’s crucial clash between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium
England’s Harry Kane with the ball as the Three Lions play against Slovenia at Cologne Stadium in Germany
Slovenia’s Petar Stojanovic in action with England’s Phil Foden at this evening’s match in Germany
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during England’s match against Slovenia in Cologne, Germany
Jude Bellingham during the Group C match between England and Slovenia at Euro 2024
Kate Goodland, the wife of England’s Harry Kane, watching the Three Lions play against Slovenia this evening
Megan Pickford, the wife of Jordan Pickford, watching tonight’s match between England and Slovenia in Cologne
Dani Dyer, girlfriend of Jarrod Bowen, watches on from the stands at Cologne Stadium in Germany tonight
WAGs pose with the names of their husbands and boyfriends printed on their shirts at tonight’s clash between England and Germany
Aine May Kennedy, partner of Conor Gallagher of England, is seen in attendance at tonight’s game
Anouska Santos, partner of Luke Shaw of England, shows her support for the Three Lions at tonight’s game
England fans look tense as they watch a screening of England’s match against Slovenia in Newcastle
England players pose for a team photograph just before kick off for their crucial match against Slovenia at Cologne Stadium
One fan Steve Walsh, 21, of Aston, Birmingham, said: ‘We were so boring and Slovenia were supposed to be the underdogs. We looked scared. Southgate needs to wake up and realise he has got the best players in the world.
‘We were like rabbits caught in car headlights. I was behind the England goal in the second half and it was groan after groan nearly everytime we had the ball. What has happened?’
With a flag of St George painted on her face, events manager Charlotte Dale, 32, from Nottingham, said: ‘We may not have won but we’re into the last 16 as group winners and we avoid Germany.
‘There was a lot of negativity in the run up to this game and hopefully this will go some way to silencing that noise.
‘It frustrates me that all of us – the fans, the pundits, everyone – seem to have no middle ground as far as England is concerned.
‘If we win we’re the best in the world and should be beating everyone 5-0. If we lose we’re suddenly ‘s***’, as Gary Lineker said.
‘The truth is probably always somewhere in between. Most people would have taken a group win before the tournament. No-one will want to play us.’
Fans in the UK had ditched work early to bag the best seats in local boozers and screening venues as they remained hopeful about their team’s shaky fate – but were left bitterly ‘bored’ and disappointed.
Earlier on Tuesday, another distracting off-field drama created fury in the England camp as Kieran Trippier‘s wife shared a cryptic message on social media.
Charlotte Trippier, 33, wrote in an Instagram story yesterday on the eve of the Slovenia game: ‘Sooner or later you get over the s*** you swore you’d never get over and it’s the best feeling in the world.’
Kyle Walker spits into the air after England’s agonising draw against Slovenia on Tuesday night
A dejected Jude Bellingham is seen on the pitch after the full time whistle
Rice gives a thumbs up to England supporters after England’s group stage match against Slovenia
Jude Bellingham speaks with his mother, Denise Bellingham and father, Mark Bellingham after the match
Gareth Southgate speaks to the media in a post match press conference after England’s disappointing draw against Slovenia
Anthony Gordon looks fed up following England’s 0-0 draw against Slovenia
England fans react at the official UEFA Fan Zone during England’s match against Slovenia
Fans watching the game from Benidorm appeared equally unenthused
Fans watching the game in Benidorm appeared tense during the match as they were eager to see their team score a goal
This elderly woman seemed to be in disbelief of what she was watching as she and other fans tuned in from Benidorm
One England fan can be seen with his head in his hands as he watch the game unfold inside the Cologne Stadium
A young England fan reacts after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C football match between England and Slovenia
An England fans looks less than pleased with the team’s performance following their dismal draw against Slovenia
England fans watching the game in Newcastle bury their heads in their hands during the Three Lions’s game against Slovenia
Two England fans watch on in horror as their team fails to get a single goal past Slovenia during their final Euros group match
England fans react as they watch the match at Boxpark Wembley in London
A fan holds his hands on his head as he reacts during England’s game against Slovenia
A young fan rubs his eye as he watches the England game inside the Cologne Stadium
The profile belonging to her Newcastle star husband did not come up in the list of accounts she was following this morning, leading social media users to claim she had unfollowed him – although Trippier still follows her.
Charlotte has decided to remain in the UK with her three children during the tournament, while WAGs that have travelled to Germany include Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner and – controversially – his former lover Lauryn Goodman.
Lauryn, 33, became embroiled in a paternity scandal earlier this year when it emerged the footballer, 34, had fathered her ten-month-old daughter while being married to Annie, 32.
England fans watching in Camden were nervous watching the match as they fear England’s ‘disappointing’ performance in the first few games will been seen again in tonight’s game.
James, 21, said: ‘Harry Kane needs to sort himself out.’ He added: ‘When he gets in the right positions he’s uncontrollable. But he seems to think he’s a midfielder or a centre back for some reason.
‘I know we’re still top of the group, but how we’ve been playing we’re not playing at a top of the group level.
‘I think we’ll get to the quarter finals. It depends on the draw but once we hit a France or a Germany then the wheels will come off.’
Domirio, 22, said: ‘They need to be more aggressive, I want to see the team pressing. If they play higher up the pitch then I think we can win. This needs to be the game where they really turn it on – especially for the fans as well.’
In Cologne, England’s army of support were readying themselves for the Three Lions’ final group game this evening.
Charlotte and Kieran Trippier are childhood sweethearts, who married in June 2016 and have three children
Charlotte wrote in an Instagram story yesterday: ‘Sooner or later you get over the s*** you swore you’d never get over and it’s the best feeling in the world’
Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan (right) and Ellie Alderson, partner of England’s Ollie Watkins, take a selfie ahead of England’s march against Slovenia
Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson ahead of England’s clash against Slovenia this evening
Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson smiles ahead of England’s match against Slovenia this evening
Ellie Alderson, partner of England’s Ollie Watkins, and Megan Pickford, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
Dani Dyer, partner of Jarrod Bowen of England in the stands for England’s clash against Slovenia tonight
Dani Dyer looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia
Denise Bellingham, mother of Jude Bellingham, and Mark Bellingham, his father, in the stands prior to England’s match against Slovenia
Denise Bellingham, mother of Jude Bellingham is seen ahead of England’s clash against Slovenia
But while fans packed out Cologne’s pubs, mass amounts of booze mixed with the sweltering heat has already proved to be too much for some with one fan being pictured asleep on a table.
In Alter Markt square, friends Jack Regan and Liam Lane, both 32, were drinking the atmosphere in, as well as their Pilsners, as they wandered across the cobbles. The pair flew in from Bristol via Amsterdam for the game – and paid £300 each for their tickets.
They said they spent half-an-hour painting their bare chests in front of a mirror before heading out on the town, but aircraft engineer Liam said: ‘It’s so hot we’ve already had to touch it up once’.
Jack, who works in the renewable energy sector, added: ‘It’s a beautiful city. Everyone’s having a good time and the police are playing it brilliantly – they’re letting people get on with having fun and there is no trouble.’
As they spoke, make-up artist Jasmine Zelenko, 42, led a band of fellow Slovenians through the square.
Ms Zelenko lives outside Cologne, but met up with her countrymen and women, many of whom were relatives, in the city this morning. Confident of victory tonight, she said: ‘We will win for sure – England have been playing badly and we are better than you think we are.’
The Slovenian then posed for a picture with England fan Dave Smith, 58, from Oldham, who has been in Germany with son Robson, 12, and named after legendary England captain Bryan Robson.
Mr Smith was equally confident about England’s prospects and said: ‘We have got a really good route to the final. We’ve had a poor start but we just need to settle down and play the way we knew we can play.’
Around the corner, Josh Buggelm and girlfriend Kat Keipert walked by in England shirts – and both speaking German.
Mr Buggelm was born to an English mother and German father and spent his early years in Wilmslow, Cheshire, until the age of six, when the family moved to Cologne.
He met his girlfriend at medical school but both have tickets for the game in the England end tonight.
‘I’m just hoping England don’t get Germany in the round-of-16, Mr Buggelm, 30, a doctor, said. In England I am always the German and in Germany I’m always the Englishman. But if the two sides meet, I’ll be supporting England.’
Ms Keipert, 31, agreed, saying that while she usually supports Germany, if the nations meet in a head-to-head, ‘then I will have to support England because it was Josh that got me into football in the first place’.
Jamie Whittaker, from Sheffield, sipped her beer and said: ‘The heat is going to play a big factor tonight. It is going to be something that the team hasn’t had to face before. We haven’t really been playing as fast on the pitches as we can, so I hope the temperatures don’t make them even slower.
England fans at Central Park, Newcastle, watching a screening Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia
England fans during a screening of the match between England and Slovenia at The Big Shed at Trent Navigation in Nottingham
England fans celebrate at the official UEFA Fan Zone during the Group C match between England and Slovenia
England fans at Central Park, Newcastle, watching a screening of the Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia
England fans wear their country’s flag as they play football outside Cologne Stadium before the match
England fans in Cologne play football outside the stadium before the match
England flans playing football outside Cologne Stadium ahead of England’s match against Slovenia
England fans are seen playing football outside Cologne Stadium before the match kicks off tonight
A topless England fan with a St George’s cross painted on his face roars and lifts his arm
An England fan in jubilant mood enjoys the sun in Cologne while drinking from a bottle of beer
One England fan could be seen getting held down by security after pushing through a barrier in the town square
At the rate these England fans are drinking, we’re not sure many will last until kick-off!
Empty beer bottles can be seen lining the streets of Cologne as England fans soak up the last of the sun
One supporter can be seen wearing a Winston Churchill mask alongside his friends in Cologne today
An England fan enjoys the atmosphere at the official UEFA Fan Zone ahead of the Group C match between England and Slovenia
Footy fever has spread to Bournemouth beach as students from Southampton, all 18, cheer for England
Trippier looked happy and relaxed during England training yesterday, where he’s seen with Jude Bellingham
‘We have to go all out for victory. If we finish second in the group, we might have to play Germany next so we have to avoid that.
‘But it is wonderful to be here in Germany on this day. The Germans have been nothing but hospitable.’
Friend Neil Saxton, son of former Blackburn Rovers manager Bobby, added: ‘We have hired a house here in Cologne and we’ve had barbecues, cold beers and now we’ve got the sunshine. All we need is for England to win tonight.’
Cameron Dickson, 50, from Carlisle, said: ‘It is hot, but we have got a great team. We’ve got a squad of tremendous individual players, but they really need to come together tonight against Slovenia. I’m confident that we can do it.’
Publican Jamie Cadenhead, 43, from Red Dial near Wigton, added: ‘England have the best supporters and we don’t mind paying a lot of money to get behind them.
‘It will be an incredible atmosphere tonight and let’s hope the boys get inspired by us, don’t get put off by the weather, and go for it.’
Angela Jellicoe, a receptionist from Chelmsford, said: ‘I love this heat. We were in Frankfurt and the weather was dreadful over the few days.
‘I hope the team can overcome the temperature tonight and play their best game. We are all behind them.’
Her husband Richard, a Queens Park Rangers fan, added: ‘This is England’s chance to show how good they are. I hope the criticism they received for the first two games will drive them on.’
Ryan Daffin, 30, from Sheffield, said: ‘I hope the noise in the stadium from the fans is deafening and we all get behind the team.’
