Gareth Southgate: England boss reveals why he stayed after World Cup

Gareth Southgate has revealed he thought-about his future as England boss earlier than the Qatar World Cup however now believes he has the prospect to make historical past with the crew after his household persuaded him to remain on.

The 52-year-old spent every week pondering his future within the wake of England’s 2-1 defeat to France within the World Cup quarter-finals earlier than it was introduced that he meant to see out a contract that runs till December 2024.

But Southgate was left to surprise if he was the correct man for the job after the sturdy criticism that got here after the 4-0 Nations League defeat to Hungary in June, and had thought-about saying he would step down on the finish of the World Cup.

Southgate informed ITV News: “There was negativity about me being in charge and the last thing I wanted was for that to be the over-arching feeling going into a World Cup when you need the fans and everybody behind the team.

“You need that energy; you need that sense of togetherness.

“And if the debate was only going to be about finding flaws in what we were doing, in order that I go at the end, then that would have been very difficult for the team to perform at their best.”

The disappointment of England’s humbling Nations League marketing campaign was shortly forgotten in the course of the group phases as Southgate’s facet loved a 6-2 win over Iran and a 3-0 victory over Wales both facet of a goalless draw in opposition to the United States with a view to advance.

A 3-0 win over Senegal within the spherical of 16 arrange a quarter-final in opposition to defending champions France but it surely resulted in a 2-1 defeat after captain Harry Kane missed the second of two penalties late on.

“The performance against France has shown the players if they didn’t believe it before, which I still wonder whether they truly believed that before the game, but coming off the field they know that is a game they could win and should have won,” Southgate stated.

After the match Southgate stated he wanted time to consider his future, with the announcement that he was staying coming eight days afterward December 18.

The former Middlesbrough boss stated his household have been key to the choice he made.

“They left Doha saying you’ve got to give this one more go and try to get this trophy,” he stated.

That is now the clear goal for Southgate as he turns his consideration in the direction of Euro 2024, with England having been drawn in opposition to Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta in Group C of the qualifiers.

Southgate accepts the one option to reply his critics can be with silverware, however stated he believes that may be a sensible prospect with this era of gamers.

“I’m in a job with the chance to make some history and I have the privilege of leading the national team,” he stated.

“It’s been an unbelievable experience. I think we’ve made progress with the team across the years we’ve been in charge and I’m determined to try and drive the team that next step.

“I think now we’re in a different landscape to any previous England team I guess, because of the success we’ve had. In our own minds, winning is probably the only thing that’s going to fulfil us.”