Carlton Cole: If England Don't Want To Listen To Criticism Get Off Your Phones

Former West Ham United forward Carlton Cole gave his assessment of England's performance in the group stages at Euro 2024 exclusively to The Panel on Gambling.com.

The Three Lions are through to the last 16, albeit in disappointing fashion, and their knockout match will take place on Sunday, July 6.

Cole isn't overly impressed with England's performance in this tournament so far and believes Spain and Germany should be the favourites on football betting sites.

Carlton Cole Says Something Must Be Wrong

England remain the 4/1 favourites with betting sites to go on and win the European Championships.

But Cole thinks otherwise and told us: "Something is wrong.

"I'm not sure what is going on, but in that camp we're not privy to what is going on the training ground.

"Anthony Gordon came out after the game and said that they're doing everything right on the training ground and they should be confident going into the game.

"But when they get to the game, they are kind of freezing."

Are Southgate's Tactics Wrong?

England have recorded one win and two draws from their three group games, but topped the group as Denmark and Serbia shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw.

On the Three Lions' subpar displays Cole stated: "It just doesn't seem like there is any cohesion at the moment and I think it's just where he (Southgate) is playing the personnel.

"I think you've got players out of position. Because they play like that for their clubs it might not mean that they play like that for their country. It might just need another tactic."

If Southgate doesn't get it right in the knockout stages, it is well worth keeping an eye on betting apps to see the odds on England to be on an early flight home.

England Players Need To Get On With It

Captain Harry Kane responded to the plethora of negatives given by the media in the past few weeks, suggesting that building up the lads with confidence would be the best way to go about it.

The Panel host Alan McInally asked for Cole's thoughts on the players' responses to which he said: "It's nonsense, it's a cop out.

"Listen, they know they have not hit the heights, the dizzy heights that we're expecting and it started before this tournament actually.

"The grumbling started in the last two games (before the Euros) we had. We're expecting an improvement now it's the tournament, now is the time...nothing has happened.

"They have got to accept the criticism and if you don't want to then don't go on your phones!"