Former England and Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has insisted that a Euro 2024 nation did not control matches even when a “prime” Manchester United legend played for them.
Host nation Germany, France, England and Portugal are among the favourites to capture the Henri Delaunay trophy at this summer’s Euros.
Germany comfortably finished top of Group A and will face Group C runners-up Denmark in the round of 16 on 29th June at the Westfalenstadion.
England managed to avoid a last-16 confrontation with Germany after the Three Lions finished top of Group C by two points.
Gareth Southgate’s men are still waiting to find out their next opponents at Euro 2024 after their lacklustre 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Portugal have already punched their ticket to the round of 16 ahead of their final Group F clash against Georgia on Wednesday evening.
France are also through to the knockout stage, but the 2018 World Cup champions finished second in Group D behind Ralf Rangnick’s Austria side.
Carragher talks Man Utd legend and Euro 2024
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher made his feelings perfectly clear on Euro 2024 favourites England ahead of the last 16.
England boss Gareth Southgate faced mounting criticism on Tuesday evening after a toothless Three Lions side failed to beat Slovenia.
Carragher has admitted that England lack a midfield figure in the same style as Toni Kroos and Real Madrid skipper Luka Modric.
The Sky Sports pundit played alongside Paul Scholes for England, with the Manchester United legend often playing out of position for the Three Lions.
Paul Scholes failed to make the same impact for England as he did at United after being forced out wide to accommodate Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Carragher believes that England failed to control matches even when they had a “prime” Scholes in the Three Lions’ teams of the past.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Telegraph, he said: “When I hear fans or fellow pundits demanding more control in midfield, or observations that England need a Toni Kroos or Luka Modric profile of footballer, my immediate response is: Who do you mean?’”
“England do not have such a midfielder, and even when Paul Scholes was in his prime – the kind of midfielder everyone is talking about – we never controlled games.”
Carragher on Kobbie Mainoo and England
Southgate admitted that he had made an ‘experimental’ call to play Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder for England’s first two Euro 2024 matches.
The England boss walked back on the decision for the Slovenia match, with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher starting in midfield ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, Southgate was forced to withdraw Conor Gallagher at the break and replaced him with United star Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo, who earned his senior England call-up in the March international break, impressed with his second-half display for the Three Lions.
Carragher admitted that he was impressed with the 19-year-old United midfielder’s performance, despite warning fans not to place “unrealistic” expectations on him.
“That is why Southgate went with the Alexander-Arnold experiment in the first place,” he said.
“Now we are hoping youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton will instantly emerge and transform the make-up of the side.
“Mainoo did well when he came on and should keep his place, but expecting him to dictate massive international games after barely half a season of Premier League football is unrealistic.”
