Former England striker Gary Lineker believes England are “distinct second favourites” against Switzerland after a performance against Slovakia which he felt was “a bit archaic at times”.
Southgate guided England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018 then the final of Euro 2020, but much of that goodwill appears to have disintegrated.
There were rumblings of discontent during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where England lost to eventual runners-up France in the quarter-finals.
Now the England manager’s tactical approach and style of play – or, indeed, lack of it – have been more widely criticised by pundits and fans.
“I saw a team which are like lost souls. They don’t seem to know what they are doing or how the team should be playing,” Lineker told the Rest Is Football podcast he hosts with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
“The style is alien to most of them. I feel for the players a little bit. They are trying so hard, but they look a little bit lost.
“It must be tactical, it must be instructions because the players are playing differently to how they are used. It’s baffling.”
Ex-England striker Shearer said England were “so bad it was untrue” against Slovakia and it was “desperation stuff” at times in Gelsenkirchen from a team which need to “massively improve all over the park” against Switzerland.
He added: “There is so much more to be had from this England team. Would it be wrong to say they have been rotten apart from 30 minutes?”
Richards does not believe there is a quick fix as England’s “overall play needs a lot of work” and they are “tactically a mile off”.
“What are we trying to do? I don’t know what the message is coming from Southgate and that is worrying,” he said.
“Tactically it was crying out for wingers [against Slovakia]. Anthony Gordon would have been perfect.
“Maybe we are a moments team, where we defend deep and rely on a moment of genius. Maybe we have to accept that. That’s what the manager is – and if he wins the tournament playing like this, then we will say ok.”