England may have reached consecutive European Championship finals plus the semis and quarters of the last two World Cups, but they are never going to win a major tournament while Gareth Southgate is in charge.
It would be astonishing if the Football Association keeps him at the helm for the next World Cup in two years’ time as the way the Three Lions are currently constructed means there is no way they are going to reach the final in the United States.
Southgate was blessed with the best player in the Premier League, the most gifted footballer in LaLiga and the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer in his starting line-up and they were backed by the strongest supporting cast at Euro 2024, yet England adopted a largely sterile, negative approach, only bursting into life when they went a goal behind in the knockout stages and the final.
It says everything about Southgate that he tried to whip his squad into a frenzy before the quarter-final against Switzerland by bringing Ed Sheeran into the camp to play a few tunes. No wonder they dozed their way through matches.
Southgate’s conservative approach was typified by England’s first touch in the final, a pass from the kick-off straight back to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Ho hum.
So who is going to replace him and provide the spark needed get over that Berlin wall and win the first major men’s tournament since 1966?
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp should top any shortlist but the Manchester City manager will see out the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and the former Liverpool boss insists he needs at least a year out of the game after leaving Anfield.
Mauricio Pochettino is currently without a job but, although he is smarter tactically than Southgate, he shares the ability to take teams to a major final and return home without a trophy.
Frank Lampard’s name has been thrown into the discussion but he flopped at Chelsea – twice – and we’re now running out of options.
Graham Potter is no bigger than 5/4 with Bet Victor to succeed Southgate and he did a grand job at Brighton, turning them into an attractive, attacking side before losing his way at Stamford Bridge. Maybe.
The second favourite in the betting market is Eddie Howe, who has worked wonders with Newcastle after doing an even better job at Bournemouth and he has all the characteristics needed to be a success.
He’s as short as 2/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral so take the 4/1 with BetMGM before it’s gobbled up.
• England are 7/1 with the big three of William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral to win the 2026 World Cup which is being staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada, but only invest in those odds if you think Southgate is about to be replaced.
Current holders and newly crowned Copa America champions Argentina stand out at 10/1 with Sky Bet and Betway while deserved Euro 2024 winners Spain are 7/1 with the same firms and Bet Victor. Portugal will enter the discussion at 16/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair and Betway if they are no longer shackled by Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego.
• Carlos Alcaraz only celebrated his 21st birthday in May and he has already won four grand-slam titles. He landed our 4/1 ante-post bet by retaining his Wimbledon crown with a straight-sets demolition of Novak Djokovic on Sunday and is no bigger than 39/30 with Ladbrokes and Coral to win the US Open in September.
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