Southgate
devastated.
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credit:
Getty
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England
manager
Gareth
Southgate
has
stated
that
“now
is
not
the
time”
to
decide
his
future
following
their
defeat
in
the
Euro
2024
final.
The
Three
Lions
were
beaten
2-1
by
Spain
in
Berlin
on
Sunday,
dashing
their
hopes
of
clinching
their
first
major
trophy
since
1966.
Southgate,
53,
has
been
in
charge
of
the
national
team
since
2016,
but
his
current
contract
is
set
to
expire
in
December.
When
asked
about
his
future,
Southgate
told
the
BBC:
“Now
is
not
the
time
for
me
to
speak
about
that.
I
need
to
talk
to
the
right
people
and
give
myself
a
bit
of
time.
“To
get
to
another
final…
it
was
a
privilege
to
have
the
opportunity.
But
to
come
up
short
is
hard
at
the
moment.”
Under
Southgate’s
leadership,
England
have
reached
back-to-back
European
finals,
the
semi-finals
of
the
2018
World
Cup,
and
the
quarter-finals
of
the
2022
World
Cup.
Southgate
suffered
backlash
at
Euro
2024
Despite
these
achievements,
he
faced
criticism
during
the
Euro
2024
tournament,
particularly
following
England’s
0-0
draw
with
Slovenia
in
the
group
stage,
where
plastic
cups
were
thrown
at
him
by
supporters.
“The
players
will
take
enormous
credit
for
getting
us
to
where
we
did,
but
when
you’re
as
close
as
that,
you
have
to
take
your
chance,”
Southgate
told
ITV.
“They
have
represented
the
shirt
with
pride
and
haven’t
been
beaten
until
the
very
end.
I
just
think
Spain
had
more
control
of
the
game.
“England
are
in
a
really
good
position
in
terms
of
the
experience
they
have.
Most
of
this
squad
will
be
around
for
the
next
World
Cup
and
maybe
the
next
Euros.
“There’s
a
lot
to
look
forward
to
but
at
this
moment,
it’s
not
any
consolation.”
Southgate
admitted
it
was
“hard
to
reflect”
on
his
eight
years
in
charge
but
expressed
confidence
in
England’s
potential
for
future
success.
“Of
course,
to
take
England
to
two
finals
has
never
been
done,
but
we
came
here
to
win,
and
we
haven’t
been
able
to
do
that,”
he
added.
“England
have
some
fabulous
players.
We
have
been
consistently
back
in
the
matches
that
matter.
It’s
the
last
step
we
haven’t
been
able
to
do.”
As
England
fans
await
further
updates
on
Southgate’s
decision,
the
team’s
journey
under
his
guidance
remains
a
significant
chapter
in
their
recent
history.