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Gareth Southgate drops hint regarding his future as England boss with bookies odds changing

Gareth Southgate drops a hint regarding his future as England boss with the bookies odds changing on a potential replacement for him.

Southgate says he’s still haunted by the the huge criticism he and his squad suffered in the past 18 months and in particular the night at Molineux which saw England fans call for him to be sacked, with heavy boos heard in matches around time especially when the Three Lions were hammered 4-0 against Hungary.

The dismal run of form left fans concerned, feeling that it was time to go or at least see how the World Cup played out before making a decision on whether he should stay on.

After reaching the World Cup quarter finals, losing to France despite a valiant effort, Football Association chiefs are desperate for Southgate to stay on and lead England into the next Euros and play out the rest of his contract, which expires in 2024.

But even after enjoying a memorable World Cup campaign and having the full support of the players, pundits and the FA, Southgate could end up walking away not helped due to the flak received during last summer’s Nations League campaign.

England boss Southgate said: “Look, I’ve found large parts of the last 18 months difficult. For everything that I’ve loved about the last few weeks, I still have how things have been for 18 months.

“What’s been said and what’s been written, the night at Wolves, there’s lots of things in my head that’s really conflicted at the moment, so what I want to make sure, if it’s the right thing to say, is that I’ve definitely got the energy to do that.

“I don’t want to be four or five months down the line thinking I’ve made the wrong call. It’s too important for everybody to get that wrong.

“After every tournament, I’ve sat with everybody at the FA and talked things through logically and I think that’s the right process to go through again.”

Southgate added: “When I’ve been through the past few tournaments, my emotions have been difficult to really think through properly in those following few weeks. It took so much energy and you have so much going through your mind.

“I want to make the right decision either way because it has to be the right one to go again, or the right one not to go again and I don’t think now is the time to make a decision like that. Neither are the next few days really.

“These tournaments take a lot out of you, and I need time to reflect. We’ve done that after every tournament and that’s the right thing to do.”

“I don’t want to be four, five months down the line thinking I’ve made the wrong call. It’s too important for everybody to get that wrong.

Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are among the players offering their public support after the France loss as they urged Southgate to stay on.

But Southgate has made no secret that he has found the last 18 months since the Euros very difficult, draining on his family, struggling mentally and also that wants another chance to manage in club football.

England now have three months before they kick off the Euros qualifiers and the FA will want an answer within the next few weeks.

SKY BET ODDS

Mauricio Pochettino – 4/1
Thomas Tuchel – 5/1
Brendan Rodgers – 8/1
Eddie Howe – 10/1
Graham Potter – 12/1
Frank Lampard – 16/1
Steve Cooper – 16/1
Steve Holland – 16/1
Steven Gerrard – 16/1

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler said: “He has done extremely well. I’ve seen England go out of a lot of World Cups, but rarely go out with this sense of wellbeing.

“The future is very bright, and of course that all stems from Gareth Southgate, the way he has taken on not just the job, but the job of developing the squad, and the whole business of developing the FA and turning it into a place where the young players want to actually go and come through the pathway – and can see quite a quick route into the national team.

“So, there is a 100 per cent argument for him staying, but obviously it’s a personal choice and I can understand why [he is considering his future].”

Southgate has picked up 49 wins from his 81 games in charge of England, with Saturday’s loss to France being his 14th.

His side picked up a 2-1 defeat by Croatia in the last four of the 2018 World Cup in Russia after leading 1-0, and England were beaten on penalties by Italy in the Euro 2020 final, after also leading that match through an early Luke Shaw goal.

Following England’s World Cup exit, Southgate’s players backed their manager with midfielder Declan Rice saying he hoped he continued in the job.

“I really hope he stays because the core group that we’ve got, and what he’s made for us, it’s so special to be a part of,” said Rice.

“I love playing under him and I love playing for England.”

Harry Maguire said Southgate has been “amazing”, while Alan Shearer said via BBC Sport that the manager should stay because he has “unfinished business”.

Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane unanimously agreed they would like to see Southgate continue, while Martin Keown and Jermaine Jenas said he “100%” should carry on.

Rio Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube channel, said a previously “pitch-perfect” Southgate had “let us down” with his substitutions against France, but added that he should not leave the role because “this story hasn’t had an ending yet”.

We have regained hope and belief. We have rising stars breaking through. We are reaching further in competitions compared to many years ago. England has changed for the better.

SEE MORE: Viewers blown away by inspiring Jude Bellingham interview after England lose to France

This is what fans had to say as Gareth Southgate drops a hint regarding his future as England boss with bookies odds changing…

@Wooshell1977: Didn’t hide today, avoid questions or blame anyone. Southgate is a class act that has brought a young team together who are exciting to watch, make the nation proud and genuinely seem to enjoy playing for England. It has been an awful long time since we had a manager like him. 🦁

@JoshuaMalaki11: People don’t realise; before he came, we were begging for a manager that would deliver half of what he’s delivered on. We got a taste of success & suddenly we’re expecting a win each tournament & astonishing football each game. He’s done brilliant & don’t deserve to be sold out.

@AbbieTrinder: Southgate has created the best England squad that I’ve seen in my lifetime. Superb talent & team morale. Gutted but proud of them all 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️ … p.s. the ref’s a W⚓️

@AnthGen: When do we stop all the “we’re proud” and “building for next time” stuff? hear it every time. Its not under 14s football. Winning is the only thing that matters.

@shaun_eagles: Bit sceptical of him in the past but, he’s gotta walk the team out for the next Euros

@andersnicole88: Definitely unfinished business with this manager and this group of players. It’s not time to give up it’s time to get going. Hope Gareth is up for it – he’s doing a great job. Euros here we come 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️ 🦁🦁🦁

@ChrisChKlPil: Southgate has done a great job working with all the players. First of all, to get the players to play for each other and put aside club rivalry was the right thing. As a result England are playing a lot better. Keep Going GS & England ✊

@kirbyestate: Proud of this squad and our manager .. those calling for him to go .. replace him with who ?? Gareth has transformed this team into a team that can challenge for trophies and are no longer a laughing stock !! Last night could have gone either way .. sadly it just wasn’t our way x

@GeorgeLacey_: Through this 4 year rollercoaster of tournament football, Southgate’s not shied, nor fled from responsibility while always treating everyone from players to media with the upmost respect. A genuinely dignified bloke. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 have much to be proud of, there’s loads more to come.

@Jon_Shapland: As disappointed as I am, and partly motivated by “Who else could we get in who would do a better job?”, I’m still Southgate in. This is his team. This is the house that Southgate built, and I hope he stays on to lead us to another crack in 1½ years’ time.

@ThorpeyNFFC: Lost every game at a major tournament where we’ve come up against a top side…with this squad we have we should be doing better, we’ve been fortunate to have 3 tournaments with favourable passages to the latter stages, over rated manager, time for someone new 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@LFC_NWA: I think it would be a big mistake to let him go now. 2024 should be the time where this young talent truly comes together. If it doesn’t workout in 2024 a new manager will have a great team and 2 years to prepare.

@joerowlands90: Done a hell of a job with England but now’s the time to go. By the time next World Cup comes along he’ll have been there 10 years. Start a new cycle now and give them the best chance of success in 2026

@Tjay505: Southgate has definitely moved the atmosphere, team spirit and what it means to play for England forward, but he continued to make strange tactical decisions at key moments in the game. Saka off for sterling? Wtf. We can’t ignore that!

@NastyDashy: 100% agree with this . He may have changed the culture with the team but the lack of tactical nous to get us through these big games is what hinders him. Wrong decisions against Italy, same as Croatia. Lost twice to Belgium. He can’t beat the big boys it’s as simple as that

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