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Man City midfielder Grealish: Southgate criticism harsh - but expected

Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish says criticism for England coach Gareth Southgate is unfair.

England failed to win any of their four Nations League games in June, including 1-0 and 4-0 defeats by Hungary.

However, Southgate led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and a first European Championship final in 2021.

"I thought it was harsh but sometimes that's what you get if you're English. I've had my fair share," City winger Grealish said.

"We reached the [Euro 2020] final last year - then [there was] the [loss to] Hungary at the start of the last camp, but before that the last time we'd lost a game over 90 minutes was Belgium in November 2020."

England drew with Italy and Germany either side of the defeats by Hungary in internationals at the end of the last league season.

After the four games, Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt insisted English football's governing body has confidence in Southgate.

Grealish was speaking prior to England's Nations League games against Italy on Friday and Germany three days later, which are the team's last fixtures before the 2022 World Cup.

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