Gareth Southgate suggests he has yet to make a decision on his England future | UK News

Gareth Southgate has said it is emotionally impossible for him to make a “logical decision at the moment” about continuing as England manager – even if they win the European Championship.

In an interview with Sky News ahead of Sunday’s final against Spain in Berlin, South gate insisted it had “improved the credibility” of English football – having been hurt by criticism at the start of the tournament over the team’s slow progress.

However, the Three Lions still contested their first final abroad and the second final of their eight-year reign, after Italy were denied the Euro trophy three years ago.

Southgate indicated before the tournament that he might step down if he did not lead the team to Euro glory.

Asked how difficult it would be to give up if he managed to win his first trophy since 1966, Southgate told Sky News: “Nothing is that difficult, but emotionally it would be impossible for me to make a logical decision at the moment about any of these things because my sole focus on two years was winning this tournament.

“The last five, six weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster, so I don’t know where I am with anything other than very focused on preparing the team for this game and determined to continue leading them in the way we have. the last month.”

Southgate achieved levels of consistency that no predecessor had achieved, except Sir Alf Ramsey, who won his only final – and England’s only title – at the 1966 World Cup.

And it is all the years of suffering for England that make victory on Sunday a potentially defining moment for the country.

England could also become two-time European champions since the Lionesses won the title in 2022.

“I definitely took the job to try and help English football improve,” Southgate said. “I know what it is [winning] it would mean not just to the general public in England, but particularly to people involved in English football – from those who develop young players to those who manage clubs at all levels of the game.

“I really think we have improved the credibility of English football in the way it is perceived around the world.

“But ultimately, until you win that trophy, there will always be doubts, both abroad and at home, about what we did.”

Sunday’s final will be Southgate’s 102nd game in charge of England and he wants to ensure he “detaches himself from the enormity of the occasion”.

Asked about his family’s pride, the 53-year-old father of two said: “It doesn’t depend on whether I win a football match or not.

“So I’m lucky in that regard.”

But the focus is on his legacy and his future, especially leaving open for now the question of whether he will stay until the 2026 World Cup.

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At the beginning of these Euros, the boos and abuse indicated a fracture in the relationship with fans.

If they had gone to much lower ranked countries, Slovakia or Switzerland, it would have been difficult to imagine Southgate staying.

But the FA now appear determined to persuade Southgate to extend his contract, which expires at the end of this year.

After the lows of a winless group stage exit from the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 embarrassment against IcelandSouthgate has taken England from rock bottom to three semi-finals in his four tournaments.

Separately, today at the team’s base in Blackenhain, Southgate spoke about the growth of the men’s team under his watch, from when it had not reached a final since 1966 to the Euro final in 2021 and the pain of penalties.

“There’s a different feeling: getting to the first final in over 50 years was huge,” Southgate said. “We are now in a different moment as a team in tournaments.

“So, a lot more experience in important games. I think there was less celebration, perhaps less satisfaction in reaching the final.

“I’m not saying this will become commonplace, but it’s a little more normal for us. And that statement itself is probably a little ridiculous, given our history.”

Southgate described it as a “tricky tournament” – mirroring the group stage with just one win and two draws and late comebacks or winners in the three knockout stage games so far.

“We kept our courage, our belief and through it all we improved and learned as a team,” he said. “We are in the final and we want to take a step further than three years ago.”

Half of this team was not with Southgate at the last World Cup, when he followed up a semi-final appearance at Russia 2018 with a quarter-final defeat to France at Qatar 2022.

Ollie Watkins, scorer of England’s semi-final victory over the Netherlands, is among the players making their debut in the tournament.

Captain Harry Kane was only called up for two goals.

“This team, half of them have never been to a tournament before, so they’re going to look at it differently than the guys who have been here for four tournaments and who are knocking on the door to win a trophy. “, said Southgate.

“But it brought a good dynamic because you have players who know what it takes to get to this point and have learned how to win.

“And you have guys who think this is what we do anyway, and they have no inhibitions.

“So what impressed me was how well they came together as a new group in such a short period of time, and the strength and resilience they found to score their late goals and get through the penalty shootout. [against Switzerland].”

So how can England overcome Spain, who won all six games in Germany and are the tournament’s top scorers with 13 goals?

After back-to-back European titles in 2008 and 2012, this is a new generation of Spaniards.

Lamine Yamal, who scored a goal in the 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals, turns just 17 on the eve of the final.

“We need to make sure tactically we are close to perfection,” Southgate said.

“They have been excellent with the ball, but they have also been excellent without the ball.

“They are a team, they work for each other. The pressure is very well coordinated. But each team has strengths and each team has some weaknesses. And our job is to be prepared for their strengths and exploit their weaknesses. . “