"There will be great disappointment at home" - Alan Shearer predicts Gareth Southgate's future after England's Euro 2024 final defeat
Former England star Alan Shearer believes manager Gareth Southgate's time with the national team has ended after the Euro 2024 final. It was disappointment yet again for The Three Lions, as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Spain on Sunday (July 14).
La Roja were the better team on the night and condemned England to their second consecutive loss in the final of the European Championships. Apart from Cole Palmer's 73rd-minute strike, Southgate and Co. failed to provide much of an attacking threat.
With the 53-year-old's contract set to expire this year, Shearer told BBC One (via Independent):
"I suspect he might say 'over to someone else'. I suspect it will be Southgate's last game."
"There will be great disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more attacking football, but they have got to the final - but when you are here, you have got to get over the line."
He continued:
"The reality is he got us to a final three years ago (at Euro 2020) and got us to a final here, and hasn't won. That will hurt him and maybe he thinks it's time for someone else."
Southgate has faced criticism for an uninspiring brand of football despite his team making it to the final at Euro 2024. Overall, The Three Lions scored just eight goals in seven matches throughout the tournament.
Southgate took the job in September 2016 and has remained in charge for 102 matches across competitions.
Gareth Southgate reacts to questions over his future as England boss after Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate failed to confirm whether he would continue as England manager after their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. He also said that he was seeking time to make the right decision.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Southgate said:
"Now is not the time for me to speak about that. I need to talk to the right people and give myself a bit of time."
"To get to another final.... it was a privilege to have the opportunity. But to come up short is hard at the moment."
England struggled to get going on Sunday as well. After seeing through the first half, they conceded early in the second as Nico Williams finished off a well-worked move (47').
Cole Palmer found an equalizer from a well-placed effort from outside the box in the 73rd minute. But Spain kept up the pressure and found a winner through Mikel Oyarzabal, who tapped home a driven cross four minutes from time.