FA to try to keep Southgate even if Euro final defeat

The England national team is in the final of the European Championship for the second consecutive edition (the second final in its history), being coached by Gareth Southgate in both tournaments. With this in mind, the English Football Association (FA) wants to extend the coach’s contract, which ends at the end of this year, until the next World Cup, in 2026, according to the English newspaper The Guardian.

The same source reports that Gareth is very well regarded by the leaders within the federation. The coach has been in charge of the England national team since 2016, has already played in two World Cups (2018 and 2022) and is in his second Euro, with his best performance in major tournaments being the runner-up in the last continental championship, in 2021, lost at home to Italy.

It remains to be seen whether the England manager will accept the offer and stay in his job. Southgate has previously suggested that he would not stay unless he returned from Germany with the title. In addition, he has faced heavy criticism from the media and England fans for not playing ‘acceptable’ football during the Euros, despite being in the final.

Our #ThreeLions. Our #EURO2024 finalists! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/xFXHQi3Pcu

— England (@England) July 10, 2024

Southgate was praised in the final semi-final match of the competition against the Netherlands for bringing on attacking midfielder Cole Palmer and centre-forward Ollie Watkins from the bench. Palmer provided the assist for Watkins’ fine late goal that sent England through to the final – the centre-forward had not yet made an appearance in the tournament.

England will face Spain in the Euro final next Sunday at 4pm (Brasília time). Should they win against the three-time champions, this will be the English team’s first title on the continent, the country’s first major title since the 1966 World Cup and the first trophy of Gareth Southgate’s career as manager.