Southgate breaks silence on England future after Euro 2020 heartbreak

England manager Gareth Southgate has offered a short update on his future after the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.

Gareth Southgate insists he needs time to reflect on his future before deciding on whether to sign a new England contract.

The 50-year-old’s current deal as the national team’s head coach runs until after the 2022 World Cup, which begins in Qatar on November 21.

The English Football Association’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has stated he hopes to tie down Southgate to a new contract. The England boss, though, has stayed coy about his future recently. As the European Championship took place this year, he instead focused his efforts on preparing the team for the tournament.

But following Sunday’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy on penalties, attention now turns back to Southgate’s future.

“I don’t think now is an appropriate time to be thinking about it,” said the England boss in a press conference on Monday morning.

“We have to qualify for Qatar. I need time to go away and reflect on Euro 2020. I need a rest.

“To lead your country in these tournaments takes its toll. I don’t want to commit to anything longer than I should. It’s not a financial thing. As I sit here today. I would be wanting to take the team to Qatar.”

How do the England team feel in the morning?

Southgate also opened up on the emotions inside the England camp on Monday morning after losing the Euro 2020 final. The defeat to Italy cost the Three Lions a first major title in 55 years.

“When you’re in sport and you get to finals, those opportunities are so rare, so to be close, it’s very hard the day after. You have given everything – the emotions are drained,” Southgate said.

“We will go again. It’s too easy to say we can go to the World Cup in Qatar and win – that’s a bit glib. We still have to qualify, we still have to win. You have to start the cycle again.

“But to be able to work with these players every day has been fantastic, so when it comes to the end like it has now, it’s hard.”

Southgate added” “If you want sustained success as a team, you need to be constantly evolving, improving and constantly finishing in latter stages of tournaments.

“It feels like my stomach has been ripped out this morning. But the fact we have had the first signs of some consistency – a World Cup semi-final and a Euro final – has to be a step in the right direction.”