Gareth Southgate sack talk cleared up as England team to tackle France in World Cup quarter-final is leaked

Gareth Southgate England September 2022

A report has clarified the Football Association’s stance on Gareth Southgate amid claims he will face the sack if England lose their World Cup quarter-final to France.

The Three Lions face a titanic clash against the reigning world champions at the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday in the last of the quarter-finals. England have been in excellent form so far, securing big wins over Iran and Wales in the group stages and drawing 0-0 with USA.

They also made light work on Senegal, the champions of Africa, in their last-16 tie. But their toughest assignment lies in wait on Saturday as Didier Deschamps’ reigning champions stand between them and a place in the last four.

England went into the tournament in horrendous form and without a win in six games; their worst run under Southgate’s reign. And there was plenty of speculation suggesting this would be his final tournament in charge of the Three Lions.

Indeed, a report even claimed a former Tottenham boss was the leading candidate to replace him, having been seen attending a game.

And in the build-up to Saturday’s showdown with France in Qatar, there are growing claims that defeat will spell the end for Southgate.

However, the Daily Mail has ridiculed those claims and claim the FA want Southgate to continue as boss regardless of Saturday’s result.

They write: ‘There is a growing feeling within football circles that this will be Southgate’s final tournament in charge of the national team as he plots a potential return to club management.

‘However, the FA are aiming to keep Southgate – who is England’s most successful manager since World Cup winning coach Sir Alf Ramsey – in charge for the next European Championship in 2024 and will ask the 52-year-old to see out the remaining two years of his deal if it transpires he would prefer to walk away from the job.’

Southgate to be asked to stay on with England

The article continues: ‘The sense of uncertainty with regards to Southgate’s post-World Cup future is something FA executives are aware of, though they are hopeful of convincing the head coach of staying in the job.

‘There is no clear succession plan should Southgate decide to leave; another factor behind the organisation’s ambition to ensure their current boss stays in situ after the tournament.

‘The only way Southgate is not England manager heading in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign is if he decides to walk away from the position.

‘Southgate and the FA will hold a post-tournament debrief during which the manager’s future will become clearer.

‘There is a clear feeling within the FA’s top-brass that Southgate has earned the right to dictate his future due to the successful work his completed in turning a team that was the laughing stock of world football into one of the planet’s elite teams.’

Southgate, meanwhile, has his players well drilled ahead of Saturday’s game in Al Khor.

With his side in excellent form, Southgate must decide whether to stick or twist with his players as they take on Les Bleus. Some theories suggest his side could revert to five at the back to combat the threat of Kylian Mbappe.

Other ideas suggest Marcus Rashford will be in line for a recall after missing out against Senegal.

England team to play France ‘revealed’

 

However, Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law claims Southgate will put out the same XI that beat Senegal when they take on the world champions.

That means that Harry Kane will lead the line once again, with support from Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

And that will mean Kyle Walker will be entrusted with the mission of silencing the tournament’s top scorer Mbappe.

The Man City man has already spoken out about the task, claiming that while the PSG superstar is a great player, he isn’t the toughest opponent he has faced.

Meanwhile, Deschamps insists England will have done their homework on Mbappe.

“I’m sure England will have prepared to face Kylian, as our previous opponents did,” he said.

“But he is in a position to make the difference. Even in the last match when he didn’t have his best match, he didn’t show his top form compared to previous games, he was still decisive.

“We have other players that can be dangerous as well and that helps us not to be over-dependent on Kylian. But Kylian is Kylian, and he always will be.

“He has that capacity to make the difference at any moment in the match.”

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