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At Wembley on Tuesday night, it didn’t feel like we were entering the final stages of the Gareth Southgate era.
Rather, it felt like a never-ending process of work. It doesn’t have just one destination. It’s been less than four months since he left on July 14th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. But there is actually more on the horizon, most likely in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026, almost a decade after Southgate first represented England.
It may sound very far away at the moment, but an inevitable question, or set of questions, has come up during this international vacation. Will that mean Euro 2024 will be the last of Southgate’s four Grand Slam tournaments? Can he do well enough to earn a new contract to play in the next World Cup? Will the British public support him continuing his work? And if not, will Southgate be tempted to jump into club football?
Southgate watches as England draw 2-2 with Belgium (Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
While we didn’t get answers to all these questions this month, there were moments when Southgate did offer some hints.
As Southgate announced his squad for this season’s break at Wembley, he revealed that negotiations between himself and the Football Association over a new contract beyond this year had been shelved until after the Euros. Southgate suggested part of his thinking was that he feared a backlash from England fans if he signed a new contract before the tournament.
Last Friday night, before the game against Brazil, Southgate was asked about his relationship with Manchester United. He said he thought it was a “total disrespect” to Erik ten Hag and said he had no intention of speaking to the club while he was England manager, and did almost everything in his power to hush up negotiations. Assuming he does not leave this post until after the Euros, it is almost impossible to see how he will take on the big club job in time for next season.
He doesn’t look like he’s trying to “do Julen Lopetegui.” (The Spanish manager was sacked shortly after the start of Spain’s 2018 World Cup campaign, and it was revealed that he had secretly agreed a deal to take over to Real Madrid after the tournament ended.)
So nothing will be decided in any case until the euro is over. And while there is some enthusiasm, particularly from the free agent and players, about the possibility of a new deal, Southgate is also wary that the wider public does not necessarily feel the same way. There is. It will be difficult to sell the merits of him staying if his performances in Germany have been poor and his results fall short of the final stage.
Jude Bellingham scores England’s late equalizer (Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
People might think all Southgate’s eggs are in the German basket. Because if he felt that this was his last chance to win the tournament with England, meaning he knew his time was running out to be involved with English football and to achieve his legacy. Because if you think you can stay in Germany for 5 weeks, that might give you a boost. He emphasizes a kind of short-term approach to decision-making.
If we only have to worry about the next four months, it would be better to go to Germany with only experienced and known players and take the talent we have taken to tournaments in the past.
But this week’s evidence is that that’s not what he meant.
Southgate has continued to experiment with new players despite this late hour. All eyes will be on 18-year-old midfield sensation Koby Mainu, who made his first start for England against Belgium and was immediately brought into the game. Mainu has already added a lot to this squad, with Southgate speaking of his “ability to receive under pressure, deal with challenges and manipulate the ball in tight areas”. But as good as he has been in the past, it might have been safer for England to bring in a player with a little more experience this time around.
Mainu impressed on his England debut (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Southgate gave debuts to Ezri Konsa and Anthony Gordon, ensuring he had a good look at both, and called up Jarrad Branthwaite. There are plenty of experienced options, especially at centre-back, and he could have returned to them if he wanted certainty ahead of the Euros.
But these choices taken together suggest Southgate may be looking to the next cycle, from Berlin 2024 to New Jersey 2026, rather than seeing this summer as a major dividing line. It is suggested.
Hearing Southgate speak in Monday’s press conference about the importance of players younger than Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker and the emergence of the next generation of leaders, he I can see that you are looking to the future. Declan Rice led England against Wembley on Tuesday, but he also praised Jude Bellingham’s leadership qualities, particularly the competitive spirit he showed in pulling England to an injury-time equaliser. It is clear that it has been done.
For Southgate, long-term questions are important, such as the future shape of the team, group dynamics, trajectory and succession planning.
Perhaps he is just a selfless administrator and if Germany is his last tournament in charge, he just wants to make sure the team is in a good place for whoever takes over. Or maybe he knows in his heart what he wants the team to look like in 2026, even with Maynou in midfield, and he wants to be there to see it.
even deeper
Briefing: England 2 Belgium 2: Tony and Mainu shine – but where does this leave Southgate?
(Top photo: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
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