Gary Lineker believes Gareth Southgate will step down as England manager regardless of the outcome of the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Southgate’s Three Lions, who lost to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final, have another chance to end 58 years of hurt and win their first European Championship ahead of Sunday’s final in Berlin.
It is the fourth tournament in a row that England have gone deep under Southgate, following their run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the Euro 2020 final and the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup.
Spain stand in England’s way oh a historic triumph and Luis de la Fuente’s side are the clear favourites following their impressive and flawless run to the Euros final.
Lineker is naturally desperate for England to become European champions for the first time and hopes the players ‘win it for Gareth’ ahead of his potential departure as Three Lions boss.
The FA are keen for Southgate to stay and take England to the next World Cup in 2026 but Lineker believes the 53-year-old will ‘probably call it a day’ regardless of the result of the final.
‘I think Gareth will go, win or lose,’ Lineker told The Sun. ‘It is very difficult to be England manager for that long.
‘You could see earlier in this tournament that he wasn’t himself, that he was finding it hard. I think he’ll probably call it a day.
‘If it doesn’t happen again, then the disappointment might be too much for him – but if we win, it is a glorious way to go. Go off into the sunset, stick that Knighthood on his chest and everybody will love him forever.
‘Whether you agree with his tactics or not, Gareth has brought harmony to that squad and given respect back to English footballers.
‘He’s a thoroughly decent human being. I’d love them to win it for him. He’s got everything right in the last few games.
‘He realised his system wasn’t working and he changed it – he deserves all the credit in the world. He’s got his subs and penalty-takers right.
‘But England have also had a bit of luck, especially the penalty against the Dutch, which was a poor decision.
‘I played in two tournaments where we didn’t have the breaks – the Hand of God and then in the semi-final in 1990, in extra-time, Chris Waddle had a shot like Watkins but it hit the inside of the post and came out.
‘You can add Gazza’s studs just missing the ball for what would have been a winner in the ’96 semi-final and Frank Lampard’s goal being disallowed when it was a yard over the line in 2010.’