A few idiots giving bad name to England, says Robbie Fowler

Lambasting rowdy elements among his country's fans who have converged on France to support their national team's campaign in the ongoing Euro 2016, former Liverpool and England football star Robbie Fowler on Friday claimed that they were only handful of people.

"Obviously there will be a minority of idiots. Yes, there cannot be a smoke without some fire, but the Russians were also involved and to label only the England fans as hooligans is wrong," Fowler, who is on the expert panel of Sony Pictures Networks, which is broadcasting the tournament on its sports channels, told reporters here.

England and Russian fans had clashed last week at Marseille and violence featuring unruly fans from these two countries has continued to mar the biggest football event after the FIFA World Cup.

Fowler, who is analysing the matches on Sony Six and Sony ESPN channels along with ex-Portugal international Deco and India's current captain Sunil Chhetri, has backed Italy to claim the top honours.

"I was impressed with Northern Ireland's last night (when they won 2-0 against Ukraine). Spain is a quality side and (Andres) Iniesta has been very impressive, though they lack a good goal scorer.

"Although I am impressed with a number of teams, I am tipping Italy to win (the title), for certain. In defence they have been superb. They will not score many goals but they will also concede less (goals)," said the ex-Liverpool stalwart.

According to 41-year-old Fowler, the lesser number of goals witnessed in the league phase so far was because the coaches of various teams are "tactically very good."

The Englishman, however, was not in favour of increased usage of technology in football than what is in vogue.

"Football is a sport of momentum and not fits and starts. I can understand goal-line technology, but I am not in favour of taking referees out of the game," he said responding to a query about the controversial goal awarded to Peru, even though the ball appeared to have gone in off an attacker's hand, that knocked five-time World Champions Brazil out of Copa America, which is in progress in the US.