Web England's Gareth Southgate, Declan Rice Respond to Criticism After Denmark Match

England Face Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday

England face Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday knowing their chances of reaching the knockout stages of UEFA EURO 2020 are hanging by a thread. The Three Lions were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Denmark in their opening match, and they will need to improve significantly if they are to beat Slovenia and keep their hopes of progression alive.

Southgate and Rice Hit Back at Critics

England manager Gareth Southgate and midfielder Declan Rice have both hit back at criticism of the team's performance against Denmark. Southgate said that he was "disappointed" with the result but that he was "proud" of his players' effort. Rice, meanwhile, said that the team was "determined" to prove their critics wrong against Slovenia.

Slovenia Looking to Cause an Upset

Slovenia will be looking to cause an upset when they face England on Tuesday. The Slovenians are ranked 64th in the world, but they have a good record against England, having won two of their four previous meetings. Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek is confident that his team can get a result against England, and he has urged his players to "play with freedom and express themselves."

Conclusion

England's match against Slovenia is a must-win for the Three Lions. Anything less than a victory will likely end their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of UEFA EURO 2020. Southgate and his players will be under pressure to deliver against Slovenia, but they will be confident that they can get the result they need. A win for England would keep their hopes of progression alive, while a defeat would all but end their chances of reaching the latter stages of the tournament.