'Oblivious' of Lineker's four-letter criticism of England, says Southgate

Gary Lineker's stinging criticism of England created waves at the European Championship.

Gareth Southgate, however, said he was oblivious to the four-letter assessment delivered by one of England's greatest players and one of Britain's biggest television stars.

It is not important to me at all, he said on Monday. If you don't open yourself to it, it can't affect you.

England's preparations for its final Group C game against Slovenia on Tuesday have been conducted against the backdrop of media and public criticism after the team's 1-1 draw with Denmark.

We have to reflect the mood of the nation, Lineker, the former England captain, said on his podcast, The Rest is Football. I can't imagine anybody, who is English, that would have enjoyed England's performance because it was lethargic, it was dour ...

You can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, he added, before using a four-letter word of his own.

His comments made headlines in the English media and earned rebuk