England boss Southgate targeted after 0-0 draw with Slovenia at Euros

Top of the group, unbeaten and on the favorable side of the draw for the knockout phase of Euro 2024. It's a case of job done for England.

Try telling that to the fans who jeered loudly and threw beer cups as the final whistle blew following a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on Tuesday.

Criticism of England's performances in Germany has been fierce.

"I've not seen any team qualify and receive similar," manager Gareth Southgate said.

He believed he and his team could be paying the price for their success under his leadership. And safe passage through to the round of 16 maintains his personal record of advancing from the group stage of every major tournament he's taken charge of, dating back to the World Cup in 2018.

"I think probably expectation (is different). We've made England, over the last six or seven years, fun again. I think it has been enjoyable for the players," Southgate said. "We've got to be very, very careful that it stays that way."

England haven't been fun to watch at these Euros, with a 1-0 win against Serbia as their only victory in Group C. That was followed by a 1-1 draw with Denmark and the 0-0 stalemate with Slovenia.

The Three Lions' performance against the Danes was so uninspired that former captain and current BBC presenter Gary Lineker used an expletive to describe it. And Southgate's team will likely need a sharp upturn in form if they want to live up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites to be crowned European champions.

Still, they can look forward to the knockout phase with a certain degree of optimism, having ended up on the opposite side of the draw to Spain, France, Germany and Portugal after advancing as a group winner.

"That was the aim before the start of the tournament. Come top of the group and control our destiny," captain Harry Kane said. "I thought we played a lot better than the other two games. We just couldn't find that final finish."

Denmark 0-0 Serbia

Denmark advanced to the last 16 from Group C after a gritty 0-0 draw with Serbia on Tuesday.

Their reward? A matchup against Euro 2024 hosts Germany – on Saturday in Dortmund.

"Playing against Germany here with the Danish team, it can't be better, can't wait," Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said. "It's a great team, but we're a great team as well. And when we play the big the big nations, we always step up."

The Danes finished with three points, the same as Slovenia, but ended up in second place because of a better disciplinary record. Slovenia, which drew 0-0 with group winners England, also advanced to the knockout stage.

Denmark had most of the chances, even though Serbia needed a victory to reach the next round. And almost all of those Danish opportunities came through Christian Eriksen, who was making a record 133rd appearance for his country.

Denmark and Slovenia finished even on points, goal difference and goals scored. There were also six yellow cards apiece among the players from both teams. But Denmark had a better disciplinary record after Slovenia assistant coach Milivoje Novakovic received a yellow card in his side's opening game against Denmark.

Serbia finished just a point behind.

"We're disappointed because of the result. We haven't been able to make the step that was lacking," Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic said. "We were looking for this one opportunity, one goal, but unfortunately we didn't succeed. This is football. We have to be very proud. Serbia showed themselves positively in a very even group."

Slovenia's result against England also eliminated Croatia, who finished third in Group B.