Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has expressed his concerns about one of the favourites at Euro 2024, despite his deep admiration for the country’s manager.
Euro 2024 started last week and host nation Germany kicked off the tournament with a 5-1 drubbing of Scotland in their Group A opener in Munich.
Germany are one of the favourites to win the UEFA tournament, with Portugal, England and France all considered top contenders at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s England side began their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Serbia in their opening Group C match.
France, much like England, fought hard to secure a 1-0 victory over Ralf Rangnick’s Austria side in their Group D opener in Dusseldorf on Monday evening.
Portugal, on the other hand, will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday evening when they take on the Czech Republic in their Group F match.
Evra admits worry over Euro 2024 favourites
Patrice Evra has admitted that he admires the work that Gareth Southgate has done during his time in charge of the England national team.
Southgate, who was previously linked with Manchester United, has taken charge of the Three Lions in the last three major international tournaments.
However, the England boss is out of contract in December and Southgate’s long-term future with the Three Lions remains shrouded in mystery.
Southgate led England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and reached the final of Euro 2020 with the Three Lions.
The Three Lions progressed to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before they were knocked out of the competition by 2018 champions France.
Evra revealed his “only worry” with England are they perform well in the qualifying campaign before the “pressure becomes [too] difficult to handle” at the tournament.
“I think Gareth Southgate’s job is always beyond the line. This is the manager of England,” he said, as per Firstpost.
“And for me, he’s doing a great job. We can see in all the past competitions how he did.
“He even helped England reach the final against Italy. But you know England have amazing players, an amazing squad.
“My only worry is sometimes, you know, they’re doing very well in the qualification game.
“Then after, when the competition starts, sometimes the pressure becomes difficult to handle.”
Evra on England’s stacked midfield options
England managed to brush aside Serbia thanks to a first-half opener from Jude Bellingham, who has been tipped to play a key role at Euro 2024 by Evra.
Evra admitted that he is a big admirer of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and insisted that Southgate has a stacked choice of midfielders to choose from.
“England have a great midfield,” he said.
“I love Jude Bellingham. There are so many players now. It will be for Southgate to see who should start.”