‘They were hit by drinks’: Konsa says family members drenched in beer
Gareth Southgate applauds the fans at the end of the 0-0 draw against Slovenia despite being given a hostile reception. Photograph: Richard Sellers/Getty Images/Allstar
Ezri Konsa has revealed England’s players had to check on family members who were drenched with beer thrown by supporters at the end of the team’s goalless draw with Slovenia.
On a night that ended with plastic beer cups being thrown in the direction of Gareth Southgate, relatives and loved ones of the players also found themselves in the line of fire. Konsa, who said that the atmosphere in that part of the stadium was “not nice” after a draw that secured top spot for England in Group C, said his brother was among those showered with drinks. The defender added that the abuse of Southgate had not been a conversation topic in the dressing room.
“We haven’t spoken about it,” Konsa said. “We were aware of it because some of our family members got hit with a few drinks. We know that in football stuff like that happens. We try not to think about it too much so we move on. There’s kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right. It happens.
“It wasn’t nice. But there’s a lot of players with a lot of experience who have experienced it before at club level. We know what to expect from fans. It’s always up and down. It’s part of the game. My brother was hit, a few others. But we haven’t spoken about it too much and there’s not much we can do about it. I spoke to him after, I asked him how he was and he said he was fine. It was coming from all angles.”
Konsa, an unused substitute in England’s first three games at Euro 2024, admitted performance levels needed to improve against Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday.
“We know we can play better,” he said. “We know that certain performances haven’t been our best level. But we always try and give it our best. We’re not going out to try and play badly on purpose. Sometimes in football it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t. But we’re ready for Sunday now.”
Southgate could make changes, with Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer hopeful of coming into the starting lineup and a debate developing over whether Jude Bellingham should keep his place. Bellingham has had a disappointing tournament and concerns over his fitness have heightened after the 20-year-old admitted he felt “absolutely dead” against Slovenia.
The Real Madrid midfielder said it was only the support of the fans that kept him going. “You definitely draw on them for energy towards the end of games,” he said. “I felt like in the last game I was absolutely dead. But you hear them singing and you can play at a level that’s not our best – it’s normal, it can happen. But the important thing when you’re representing those fans is that you don’t give up.”