England fans must accept that the Three Lions, while under the management of Gareth Southgate, will be a "hard watch" and should not expect anything different, according to Alan Shearer.
Southgate's England were indebted to a wonder goal from Jude Bellingham as the Real Madrid star saved his side from an embarrassing last-16 exit at the summer's Euros at the hands of Slovakia.
Bellingham met Marc Guehi's long throw in the 95th minute with a sensational overhead kick to force the tie to extra-time. Harry Kane secured victory as he met Ivan Toney's headed cross, avoiding the ignominy of one of the national team's most embarrassing defeats in their history.
Despite the sense of relief and salvation, this was another dire performance from England with the previous charges of lethargy and disfunction on full display.
Bellingham's goal was England's first shot on target, while Kane's winner marked England's second. Following the England captain's winning goal, Southgate's side dropped deep once more, gifting Slovakia possession for the final minutes of extra-time.
And while Francesco Calzona's side didn't make more of the opportunity, Southgate came under criticism for what many perceive as negative tactics but ex-England striker Shearer believes that such negative tactics have been Southgate's calling card for some time.
"It was another hard watch from then on until the final whistle," Shearer wrote in a column for the BBC. "No-one wants to see us drop deep like that, but we have to accept that is the way Gareth Southgate wants us to play.
"The evidence is there now that this is who we are, and this is our identity in major finals. The evidence is there now that this is who we are, and this is our identity in major finals."
The Newcastle United legend added: "Everyone is crying out for him to give us some attacking football, but his England side have played like this in previous tournaments too - and it got us to the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020. He is not going to change now."
While criticism of Southgate's style and selection has ratcheted up to almost deafening levels, the 53-year-old is the nation's most successful manager since legendary Alf Ramsey. Indeed, since taking over from Sam Allardyce eight years ago, Southgate has helped England reach four round of 16 games, winning them all, while progressing to two quarter-finals (World Cup 2022, Euro 2024), a semi-final (World Cup 2018) and a final (Euro 2020).
Southgate has also tallied seven knockout games, having managed 11 in total, which is the best record for an England manager and matches the total number of knockout games win accumulated between 1968 and his arrival in 2016.
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