The decision has been made: Gareth Southgate will remain as England coach despite the disappointing World Cup. The English Football Association FA reports in a statement on Sunday morning that the trainer will also lead the national team during (the road to) the 2024 European Championship.
Southgate has a contract with the FA until the end of 2024 and English media predicted earlier this weekend that it had been decided not to end the collaboration early. That has now been confirmed by the FA. The English association says that Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland have always had confidence and will continue to lead.
For England, who lost the European Championship final last year, things went wrong in Qatar in the quarterfinals. After a missed penalty from Harry Kane, reigning world champions France were 2-1 too strong. That was a huge disappointment for the English, who hoped to finally become the best in the world again. In 2018 England finished fourth under the leadership of Southgate.
Southgate gets the confidence for another big final tournament to help England’s golden generation to a top prize. For the 2024 European Championship, which will be held in Germany, England is in a qualifying group with Italy, Ukraine, Malta and North Macedonia. The placement cycle starts in March.
The English Association appointed Southgate in September 2016 following a particularly short tenure from Sam Allardyce. During the World Cup in 2018, England finished fourth with Southgate and at the last European Championship the English reached the final. That final battle was lost to Italy at Wembley after a penalty shootout.
After the elimination at the World Cup in Qatar against France, Southgate already received support from various quarters, analyst and former England international Rio Ferdinand already indicated that he was in favor of a longer employment with his former teammate. Former international Gary Neville also spoke words to the same effect. British tabloids previously mentioned Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, among others, as possible successors.
