Gareth Southgate has left his future as England coach open after losing the European Championship final. “I don’t think now is a good time to make such a decision,” said the 53-year-old following the 2-1 defeat against Spain in Berlin on Sunday evening. “I need to talk to the right people. That’s not something for now.”
The English Football Association (FA) had already signaled before the final and regardless of the outcome that it wanted to continue working with the former defender until the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Before reaching the final in Germany, Southgate had also reached the 2021 European Championship final with the “Three Lions” and had reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022.
For England captain Harry Kane, as well as for his coach, it was “not the right moment to talk about it”. Others, not the players, had to decide. Southgate did not extend his contract before the European Championship. Criticism in the media and among ex-professionals had grown in recent years – including at this tournament. A change in mood only came after the convincing 2:1 win in the semi-final against the Netherlands.
“I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game,” said former England world-class striker Alan Shearer. “He took us to the final three years ago, and again this time – and didn’t win. That will hurt him and maybe he’ll think it’s time for someone else.”
