July 13th 2024.
Gary Lineker, the former England striker, has shared his thoughts on the current Three Lions boss, Gareth Southgate. He believes that no matter the outcome of the Euro 2024 final against Spain, Southgate will step down as England's manager. This comes after England's heartbreaking loss to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final. But they now have another chance to end 58 years of hurt and claim their first European Championship title in the upcoming final in Berlin.
Under Southgate's leadership, England has consistently performed well in major tournaments, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the Euro 2020 final, and the quarter-finals of the upcoming Qatar World Cup. However, Spain, who have had a flawless run to the Euros final, are seen as the clear favorites to win. Lineker, like many others, is eagerly hoping for England to make history and win their first European Championship. He hopes that the players will give it their all and "win it for Gareth" before he potentially departs as Three Lions boss.
While the Football Association (FA) is keen for Southgate to continue as manager and lead England to the 2026 World Cup, Lineker believes that the 53-year-old will "probably call it a day" regardless of the final result. He explained, "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."
Lineker also expressed his admiration for Southgate's leadership skills and the positive impact he has had on the team. He said, "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." The former striker hopes that the team will win the Euros for Southgate and give him a glorious farewell as he has got everything right in the last few games.
Despite England's impressive performance in the Euros, Lineker acknowledges that luck has also played a part. He pointed out the penalty against the Dutch, which he believed was a poor decision, and mentioned his own experiences in tournaments where luck was not on England's side. Lineker recalled the infamous "Hand of God" incident in 1986 and the heartbreaking semi-final loss in 1990, where Chris Waddle hit the post in extra time. He also mentioned other instances where England was unlucky, such as Gazza's missed shot in the 1996 semi-final and Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in 2010.
In the end, Lineker hopes that England will finally have luck on their side and win the Euros for Southgate. He believes that with the manager's tactical adjustments and the players' determination, they have a good chance of lifting the trophy. Lineker said, "He realized 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." And if they do win, it would be a perfect way for Southgate to end his tenure as England manager, with a Knighthood and the love and admiration of the nation.
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