West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says England fans should ‘appreciate’ World Cup qualification, even if they found the process boring.
Gareth Southgate’s side cruised to top of their group to book a place at next summer’s finals in Russia, however, they have taken a wave of criticism for their style of play.
Bilic, though, feels that the Three Lions have done well and that, in the context of how other nations have fared, their achievement should be appreciated.
“It’s hard to produce that rhythm,” Bilic said when asked why England’s football was ‘boring’.
“You need both teams to play. You can’t expect one team to run like crazy when the other is slowing the tempo of the game.
“That’s been for years the situation in international football.
"Sometimes in the Champions League and Europa League, English teams can’t get into the rhythm. You need both.
“I think England have done well. They’ve qualified and I know the English press and fans talk like qualifiers are like friendly games which, on one hand, OK, but only to a certain level.
“Portugal needed to win their final game in a group with Switzerland but if England were in a group with Switzerland you’d think they were like Slovenia. Italy are going to the Play-Offs, France needed to win their last game, Croatia needed to win to go to the Play-Offs and they have a really good team.
“Apart from Germany and Belgium, nobody cruised to qualification, so we should appreciate that.”
The Croatian goes head-to-head with Burnley and manager Sean Dyche, who is often overlooked when the conversation turns to England managers, this weekend.
Though the Hammers boss feels that he would do a good job.
"Why not, definitely,” Bilic said.
"It is always good for the national team to have a domestic manager. It is not a club - you have to understand the whole nation and the culture, the history, the legacy, the expectations.
"He is definitely one of them that has it. He is young, he looks strong and he's got that voice! I'm joking, but he is doing a really good job.”
