Southgate on England future: It’s not the time to decide

England manager Gareth Southgate has stated that “now is not the time” to decide his future following their defeat in the Euro 2024 final.

The Three Lions were beaten 2-1 by Spain in Berlin on Sunday, dashing their hopes of clinching their first major trophy since 1966.

Southgate, 53, has been in charge of the national team since 2016, but his current contract is set to expire in December.

When asked about his future, Southgate told the BBC: “Now is not the time for me to speak about that. I need to talk to the right people and give myself a bit of time.

“To get to another final… it was a privilege to have the opportunity. But to come up short is hard at the moment.”

Under Southgate’s leadership, England have reached back-to-back European finals, the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Southgate suffered backlash at Euro 2024

Despite these achievements, he faced criticism during the Euro 2024 tournament, particularly following England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stage, where plastic cups were thrown at him by supporters.

“The players will take enormous credit for getting us to where we did, but when you’re as close as that, you have to take your chance,” Southgate told ITV.

“They have represented the shirt with pride and haven’t been beaten until the very end. I just think Spain had more control of the game.

“England are in a really good position in terms of the experience they have. Most of this squad will be around for the next World Cup and maybe the next Euros.

• Euro 2024: Spain defeat really tough to take, says Harry Kane

“There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment, it’s not any consolation.”

Southgate admitted it was “hard to reflect” on his eight years in charge but expressed confidence in England’s potential for future success.

“Of course, to take England to two finals has never been done, but we came here to win, and we haven’t been able to do that,” he added.

“England have some fabulous players. We have been consistently back in the matches that matter. It’s the last step we haven’t been able to do.”

As England fans await further updates on Southgate’s decision, the team’s journey under his guidance remains a significant chapter in their recent history.

The post Southgate on England future: It’s not the time to decide first appeared on 3News.

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