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 at this stage of the tournament.

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

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

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

Southgate believes he and his England team could be paying the price for their success under his leadership. 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, their only victory in Group C. That was followed by a 1-1 draw with Denmark and the scoreless draw with Slovenia.

Three games, two goals and a whole lot of underwhelmed fans.

The performance against Denmark was apparently so uninspired that former captain and now BBC presenter Gary Lineker used an expletive to describe it. And despite claiming he was “oblivious” to Lineker's stinging critique, it contributed to the “unusual environment” Southgate said he was working in at this tournament.

The atmosphere was hardly helped by plastic beer cups being thrown on the field as Southgate and his players went to applaud England supporters after the match.

"“Yeah, I understand it. I'm not going to back down from going over and thanking the fans who were brilliant during the game," he said. “They might feel differently towards me. But for me, we only will succeed if we are together.”

Southgate led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018 and the final of the last Euros. But his team will likely need a sharp upturn in form if it is to live up to its pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites for the European title.

Still, England have at least ended up on the opposite side of the draw to Spain, France, Germany and Portugal and will play one of the best third-place teams in the next round after advancing as group winners.

Family first

Midfielder Phil Foden has temporarily left the team's camp to deal with a family matter, the Football Association said in a brief statement on Wednesday.

Media reports suggested he has left to be present for the birth of his third child. Foden is expected to be back with the squad by Sunday.

AP/PTI