Gareth Southgate may very well be set to take charge of his last game as England manager within the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions boss will oversee his second straight Euros final as his side face Spain in Berlin on Sunday, survive talkSPORT.
After reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals on the World Cup in addition to now one other final appearance on the Euros – 4 years on from their runners-up effort, Southgate’s record is impressive.
Nonetheless, there may be one thing missing from his reign – silverware.
Defeat to Spain would mean one other painful failed try and win a world trophy but victory would immortalise the squad.
There was huge debate over Southgate’s future throughout the tournament and depending on how the ultimate seems, this might well be his farewell game…
Is Southgate leaving England after Euro 2024?
Southgate will take his time before deciding his England future, talkSPORT understands.
The FA are keen for the 53-year-old to remain on whatever the end result of Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.
And so they want him to sign a brand new contract to remain as Three Lions boss.
But sources near the England camp will not be expecting Southgate to make any knee-jerk judgement on whether to remain or go.
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His current contract expires in December 2024, and he declined the FA’s offer to sign an extension ahead of the tournament amid fears it could cause a distraction to his players.
Southgate gave an update on his situation when speaking ahead of the Euro 2024 final earlier this week.
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When asked how difficult it may very well be to walk away if England beat Spain, he said: “Nothing’s that difficult, but emotionally it will be not possible for me to make a logical decision for the time being on any of that because my sole focus for 2 years has been winning this tournament.
“The last five, six weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster, so I do not actually know where I’m with anything aside from, very focused on preparing the team for this game.
“And [I’m] determined to maintain leading them in the way in which we’ve got over the past month.”
He continued: “I definitely took the job to attempt to help English football improve.
“I do know what it [winning] would mean not only to most people in England, but particularly to people involved in English football – from people who develop young players to those who run clubs to each level of the sport.
“Really, I believe we have improved the credibility of English football in the way it’s perceived around the globe.
“But ultimately, until you win that trophy, then there’ll all the time be those questions, each abroad and at home, about what we have done.”
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Southgate is getting ready to becoming an English icon and even being knighted, along with his side one win away from glory.
He has faced criticism throughout the tournament, nevertheless, he has stepped up under the pressure and masterminded one other successful major tournament run.
If England do go on the win Euro 2024, which shall be their first international trophy since 1966, he may stay on in his role.
And meaning could still be in charge for the 2026 World Cup.
But in the event that they miss out within the showpiece again, there may very well be a change.
The FA’s shortlist of potential replacements includes Graham Potter, Eddie Howe and under-21 boss Lee Carsley, but there haven’t been talks with any candidate.
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talkSPORT will bring you reside commentary of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as England bid to make history against Spain. Tune in via the web site or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all of the build-up.
