OPEN THE GATE
FA ‘determined’ to convince Gareth Southgate to stay until World Cup 2026 even if England lose Euro 2024 final vs Spain
The England manager doesn't have long left on his contract
THE FA will attempt to persuade Gareth Southgate to stay on as England manager - even if he fails to bring home the Euro 2024 trophy.
England booked a spot in the Euros final with a 2-1 win over Holland on Wednesday.
3
3
They will now face Spain on Sunday, with a huge prize up for grabs.
If England beat Luis de la Fuente's side in Berlin, they will secure their first men's major title in 58 years.
But even if they don't, Southgate could keep his job as manager.
According to The Times, the FA are desperate to keep him on board regardless of the result.
Southgate's current contract expires in December, but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham plans to hold fresh talks with him at the end of Euro 2024.
Any new deal would take him through to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico - which would mark his 10th year in the job.
TalkSPORT claims he will take his time to make a decision after the tournament.
It was previously suggested that Southgate, who has overseen 101 games, could step down after this summer's tournament.
Most read in Euro 2024
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
You can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack Wilshere
AFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.
We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.
Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.
People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.
But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.
You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.
Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.
But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.
There was no panic coming out of the camp.
Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’
And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.
They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.
We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.
You want to peak in the final.
If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.
Read Jack Wilshere's England vs Holland verdict in full.
Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack's Euros 2024 opinions...
The 53-year-old himself has also insisted he does not want to outstay his welcome.
Fans began growing frustrated with him during the Euro 2024 group stages following England's 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
England fans gush 'my manager' as incredible footage emerges of Southgate going wild after reaching Euro 2024 final
Some supporters even threw beer cups at him from the stands in Cologne.
However, the mood among fans has grown more positive as the tournament has progressed and the players have continued to back him throughout.
Following England's last-16 win over Slovakia, Declan Rice said: "There's that inner-fight and spirit in us, a few Slovakian players before the game said we didn't have.
"We've got that togetherness. We proved that tonight.
"We'll die for each other out there. We'll do anything to protect this manager, to protect each other.
"Keep going, keep fighting. And what we've got as a group tonight I think showed out there.
"It's an honour to be a part of it. We're going to keep going, we're going to keep giving it everything."
Were Southgate to leave his role, it'd see England having to find their first new manager since 2016.
Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter is the current favourite with bookies to replace him should that happen.
Other names in the frame include Eddie Howe, Mauricio Pochettino and Frank Lampard.
Perfect England
Southgate admits England have to be "perfect" to beat Spain in the final on Sunday.
He said: "They have won a few trophies. They are a bloody good side. Let’s pitch it right. We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us.
"We have got players who have played lots of big matches so they will know what is required on the night but in the next couple of days we have got to get perfectly prepared as it is such a quick turnaround."
Read More on The US Sun
It will be England's second successive European Championship final.
The Three Lions faced Italy in the Euro 2020 final three years ago, but lost on penalties.
3
Greatest English sporting moments since 1966
- David Platt's last-minute extra-time winner vs Belgium at Italia 90
- Paul Gascoigne's wondergoal vs Scotland at Euro 96
- Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup
- Ashes victory over Australia in 2005
- Super Saturday at London 2012
- Ben Stokes' heroics to win 2019 Cricket World Cup final
- Lionesses winning 2022 Women's Euros at Wembley