There’s much debate about Southgate’s future as England boss.
Gary Lineker seemed to take a swipe at Gareth Southgate with a seven-word comment after England’s defeat in the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions fell to a heartbreaking defeat in the final as Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute goal won Spain their fourth European Championships.
Throughout much of the tournament, England have flattered to deceive and were criticised for their lack of attacking play against the likes of Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia.
However, after their games against Switzerland and Netherlands, it had looked like England were finding their groove.
But they struggled in the final, having just 35 per cent of the ball, and only truly looking dangerous going forward once they fell behind at the start of the second half.
This has only intensified speculation about Southgate’s future as England manager, with some fans believing it’s time for him to step aside.
Reacting to the final defeat on the BBC, former England defender Rio Ferdinand said England’s style of play “falls on the manager’s toes.
“We said after the group stages, if you’re going to play the conservative side of things with the amount of talent we have in this squad, you have to win,” he said.
“Otherwise it will come down to it being absolutely dissected and looked at as being a negative approach.
“That falls on the manager’s toes. He sets this team out in a particular way to play.”
But it was Gary Lineker who perhaps summed up opinion most succinctly.
He simply said: “It is a victory for attacking football.”
His Match of the Day colleague Alan Shearer had been on commentary duties for the BBC, and he said he thought the final would prove to be Southgate’s last game as England boss.
“He will know that they haven’t performed. They didn’t have enough energy or quality on the ball,” Shearer said.
“We would have loved to have seen him play more front-foot football. They have had another taste of it but you have to get over the line.
“First is first and the rest are nowhere, I’m afraid.
“I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game. From where he took over and where they are now.”
As for Southgate himself, the England boss has insisted that now is not the time to discuss his position and it will take time for him to decide what the next step is going forward.
He told Radio 5 Live: “Now is not the time for me to discuss that. I understand the question of course, but I need to speak to the right people – we will go from there.
“It has been an amazing experience to lead a team to a final, but at the moment to come up short is very painful.”
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