Football's dirtiest player? Steven Gerrard's past comments about Ryan Porteous ring remarkably true as fan shows defender made almost identical tackle to Ilkay Gundogan red card shocker TWICE before

The 25-year-old was given his marching orders at the stroke of half-time after he committed a horror challenge on Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan in the tournament opener. Porteous was immediately sent off and the hosts were awarded a penalty, from which Kai Havertz extended the German's lead to 3-0.

As the defender was admonished from all quarters, fans pointed out Steven Gerrard's comments on the player from three years ago when he used to manage Rangers and Porteous played for Hibernian. The Liverpool legend had slammed the then-22-year-old for a poor tackle on Rangers' Joe Aribo which led to him being sent off.

Speaking to reporters after Rangers' win over the Hibs in December 2021, Gerrard said: "It’s a wild tackle. It’s a leg-breaking tackle if he catches him. The kid only has to play the ball. I don’t know why there is any reason that he wants to go in with that intent and it is the second time that he has done it against us, because he did it against Lassana Coulibaly not so long ago."

He added: "So the kid is obviously not learning and he has let his manager and his teammates down today. That is obviously Jack (Ross)’s business. There is no defending a tackle like that because the speed of it, the height of it and the force don’t belong on a football pitch. I have had to learn over the years myself as a player to learn from those types of moments of madness. So hopefully the kid learns."

A post was also shared on X by @JLauder91 showcasing previous challenges by Porteous that were almost identical to the one on Gundogan.

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After a disastrous start to their campaign in Munich, Steve Clarke's men will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Switzerland in their second Euro 2024 clash.