by Gareth Southgate yelled, “One more,” as in, “one more game,” to England‘s horde of traveling supporters on Wednesday. However, if his superiors at the English Football Association have their way, there will be a lot more.
After a depressing group stage, England head coach Gareth Southgate was met with beer cups and now finds himself gearing up for Sunday’s final against Spain with a chance to make history.
Senior Football Association leaders have made it their top priority to convince Southgate to stay in command beyond the tournament, at least until the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as a result of that incredible voyage.
Whether England is beaten by Spain or wins its first major trophy in 58 years, talks over a new agreement are expected to begin in the weeks after the match, according to a number of English publications.
By design, there isn’t much time to work with. Southgate’s contract was set to expire in December, giving him time to consider his options and possibly look into club options, while also giving the England program time to assess the best course of action.
At the end of the season, Southgate was heavily linked to the Manchester United position; however, incumbent Erik ten Hag retained his position despite the team’s miserable eighth-place finish in the English Premier League.
Although the late Sir Alf Ramsey has a sacred position as the only England coach to win significant awards, it is difficult to contest Southgate’s ranking as the team’s second-greatest manager ever.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are among the outstanding players for the national team, with Kane being the all-time leading scorer and Bellingham potentially becoming a generational player despite challenges in the tournament.
Following their 2018 World Cup semifinal victory and narrow loss to eventual winners France in a shootout loss in the Euro 2020 final, England fell to France in a close quarterfinal match in the 2022 World Cup.
Public expectations have grown to previously unheard-of heights as a result of this close call, and even with a few near misses in this round of the knockout stages, Southgate has already accomplished something that no England manager has ever accomplished. The nation will compete in a major final outside of its borders for the first time on Sunday.
The position in England is not an easy one; the intense passion for the team and the sport makes for stressful times, particularly during big tournaments such as this one. Southgate has admitted that the grind is so unpleasant that he finds it difficult to derive any “joy” from his work.
England’s captain, Southgate, was initially hurt by criticism for England’s lack of cohesive football. Despite the fluidity, the team has shown resilience, spirit, and the ability to come from behind three times. Southgate expressed his pride in his country and the opportunity to celebrate the second final, stating that it is a special feeling to be able to celebrate for his country and not be criticized.
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