Michael Owen Answered Love Island Jibes Ahead Of England Game

You'd hate to be Michael Owen right now, and not just because it means you hate all films, just imagine the abuse the Ballon d'Or winner must be getting about Love Island right now!

Owen's daughter Gemma is on this year's edition of the popular dating/reality show, which began its latest eight week run on Monday night.

That has inevitably led to plenty of jokes and digs at the former Liverpool striker on social media. It can't be sure what's more painful for the 42-year-old right now, that stream of abuse or sitting down to watch his daughter get hit on every night.

So it's no surprise that the former footballer has decided to pick up an extra punditry gig this week, to avoid the constant Love Island noise, working for Channel 4 on their coverage of England's Nations League games.

He was in Germany on Tuesday night for the 1-1 draw but he couldn't avoid everything going on in 'the villa,' with presenter Jules Breach opening the show with a joke related to the subject.

"Joining me hoping to see another famous win for England tonight in Munich, England and Arsenal midfield Jordan Nobbs, former England, West Ham and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and the father of Love Island’s Gemma Owen," the presenter said.

"A big night for the Owen's last night Michael, how are you feeling?" she then asked.

Understandably, Michael was pretty keen to move on with the whole thing, replying, "I came all the way to Germany to try and avoid all that back home, but it has been brought up straight away!

"But I am feeling alright. This is taking my mind off it so don’t bring it back up."

Gemma's appearance has already caused controversy with audiences, due to her only just turning 19-years-old, a month before the programme started.

The international dressage rider shared a kiss with 27-year-old Davide on the first night, leading to threats from the audience that they'd complain to Ofcom.

Their disapproval of the couple will only have gone up on Tuesday, whilst her dad was making comments about England's draw, when she ended up coupled up with the Italian, when he picked her.

There was also controversy in Germany, where Gareth Southgate's side were on the verge of back-to-back losses for the first time since 2019.

Harry Kane won an 88th minute penalty, before dispatching it to earn a 1-1 draw, but many fans felt that the striker was offside in the build up.

That was proved to be not the case, but fans of rival countries still thought that the Tottenham Hotspur forward went down really easily.

I refuse to make the joke linking these two topics...