Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker did not hold back when discussing Gareth Southgate's comments about Kalvin Phillips, branding the remarks "bizarre" and "worrying"
After England's disappointing draw with Denmark on Thursday, Southgate irritated fans when asked about the midfield lacking balance in their first two fixtures.
Trent Alexander-Arnold partnered Declan Rice in the first two games as part of an experiment England had been working on for quite some time.
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But he was replaced by Conor Gallagher in both as Southgate looked for more energy.
In his post-match interview, Southgate claimed England are trying new options in midfield as "they don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips".
Phillips hasn't played for England since November and was well out of contention after a disastrous loan spell with West Ham.
He was in England's Player of the Year a few years back after performing well at Euro 2020.
But former Three Lions strikers Shearer and Lineker were definitely not in agreement with Southgate's statement.
"It's insulting to some of the players that are already there and also it's wrong," Lineker responded on the Rest is Football.
"Because there are players in that squad that could do it - even the young players that he's brought in. Adam Wharton could do it, Kobbie Mainoo could probably do it.
"[Jude] Bellingham could probably do it you just need to tell him. But the players need instructions and the players need to understand what they're jobs are."
Shearer was also confused, adding: "If we've been relying on Kalvin Phillips for the last whatever years then that is very worrying to me.
"I didn't understand his comment at all. He knows it's a million miles off from what he expects, the standard that he has brought to England team over the years and it's nowhere near what we want.
"That performance and that team won't win this competition unless they improve massively."
Mainoo made a cameo in the win over Serbia, while Wharton is yet to make an appearance in the tournament after receiving a call-up.
The likes of Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer have also been unused substitutes.
England return to action on Tuesday when they take on Slovenia in their final Group C game in Cologne.
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Topics: Alan Shearer, England, Gareth Southgate, Gary Lineker, Kalvin Phillips
Josh Lawless