Sir Keir Starmer on comparisons with Gareth Southgate and what he would say to the England team

Virgin Radio

1 Jul 2024, 11:08

When Sir Keir Starmer visited Virgin Radio for a chat with Chris Evans today (1st July), talk turned to England’s win against Slovakia in the Euros last night.

After falling behind in the first-half, England seemed destined for a humbling exit from the competition until Jude Bellingham scored a stunning injury-time equaliser with the team’s first shot on target. Gareth Southgate’s team went on to win 2-1 in extra-time. 

Joining the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar, Labour leader Sir Keir said: “Gareth will be really pleased this morning. I mean, what a game! It was looking very, very close. I was just looking at the clock thinking there was almost not enough time left.”

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He added: “I watched it with really good friends at home, because it was my son's 16th birthday yesterday. So it was a really, really brilliant day for us. Well, in the end!”

England have rather laboured their way to the quarter-finals with some unconvincing performances. Sir Keir, who is a season ticket holder at Arsenal, said: “Look at Bellingham last night. They are great players. They're just not gelling.”

When Chris asked what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta might do with the England players  ahead of the game against Switzerland on Saturday, Sir Keir said: “Make them play together. Declan Rice, I'd push a little bit further up, give him a bit more freedom. But look, Southgate gets what I get as Labour Party leader, which is lots of noises off. Everybody in the stands, everybody on the telly could play a better game or put a different and better squad on than the manager.”

The Labour leader added: “Never forget, we’ve all had this. Confidence spins like that in five or ten minutes. You have a good game and suddenly the whole team… we've all done it, you know, you're 2-0 up, you think it's fine. The other team get a goal. Suddenly everything changes.”

When Chris asked what he would say to the team, Sir Keir replied: “I would say, ‘Just forget where you are in the competition. Forget all the noises off. I have to do this. Just go into a sort of tunnel. Know what you're trying to achieve and just don't listen’.”

He added: “If you look at the expressions on the England players yesterday before they scored the goal, it was all expressions of anxiety. Looking at each other, you know, not criticising each other, but anxious rather than, you know, ‘We're going to do this.’ That's what needs to change.”

The politician also told Chris: “I think they'll beat Switzerland.”

Speaking about his love of football, and attending Arsenal games, Sir Keir said: “I go with really close friends,” and added: “All the people around you in the stands, don't know their second name, don't know where they live, usually don't know what they do for a living. But you've shared experiences. You've sort of had the lows and the highs together. It's absolutely fantastic.”

Read what Sir Keir told Chris about his relationship with his father, and his regrets, here.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.