Gareth Southgate says it's too soon to sign new England deal
The England manager has given a press conference
Gareth Southgate says he needs time to reflect before signing a new contract to continue being the England manager
England were beaten by Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday night, with the match ending in penalties.
During the tournament, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said that he wanted to hand Southgate a new deal.
But Southgate told a press conference on Monday: “I don’t think now is an appropriate time to think about anything.
“We have got to qualify for Qatar but I need some time to go away and watch the game and reflect on the whole tournament, I need a rest.
“It is amazing experience but to lead your country in these tournaments takes its toll and I need a break now.”
Southgate has said he wants to lead the team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The 50-year-old continued: “I said at the time it is great to have that internal support, you greatly value that as a manager.
“I don’t want to commit to anything longer than I should and I don’t want to outstay my welcome so all of those things need consideration.
“I want to take the team to Qatar, I feel we have made progress over the four years, we have had a fourth, a third and a second-placed finish and that is as good as anyone.”
The manager said it was too early to be able to reflect on the positives of the journey to the final.
“I know in time we will have an appreciation of that and I know the messages we are getting underline that,” continued Southgate.
“But when you are in sport and you get to a final you know those opportunities are rare and to be so close and to know what that has taken and know you have to pick up and go again, that is very hard the day after.
“We will go again of course.”
Not too nice to win tournaments
Southgate rejected the theory that England are too nice to win major tournaments.
“I don’t see that really, we got to a final for the first time in 55 years,” he said. “I am not really sure…you’re not a nice team to get to a final.
“We have overcome a lot of hurdles that we have been unable to in the past.
“If we had been torn apart or been a mess then I might look at it differently. It is easy to throw theories around at the end of any tournament, but it is important to analyse correctly when you are a coach, I don’t want to go along with theories that I don’t think are correct.”
Southgate said that ensuring his players were supported after the penalty heartbreak was “top of his thinking” in the hours after the final.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re there, and aligned with their club, and making sure that we look after those boys, absolutely.”
A learning experience
Southgate says his players now know what is required to do well in tournaments, having reached the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and is excited for the future.
He added: “Russia was the beginning, we had seven in the starting team from Russia and that experience has been critical through the big matches in this tournament.
“So to add the young players in at the time we did, there is another group with more learning and understanding.
“Because of what they have been through in these two tournaments they will have a belief that they can get close.
“The cycle and the expectation of the group will know what’s needed to get to the level to get to win and that should be a process that stands us in good stead.”
England's journey through Euro 2020
England started the tournament in Group D alongside Croatia, Czech Republic and Scotland. The Three Lions beat Croatia and the Czechs 1-0 but Scotland held them to a nil-nil draw. After that game Scot Billy Gilmour (pictured) tested positive for coronavirus which meant he, England's Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell all had to isolate.
England went through to the next round at the top of Group D
England's opponents in the first knock-out round were Germany. The team put all thoughts of past penalty shoot-outs to the back of their mind and won 2-0 thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.
The quarter-final was England's only match on foreign soil, taking place in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome against Ukraine. It ended 4-nil to England, with goals from Kane, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson
Denmark awaited in the semi-final - England's first time in the last four at the Euros since 1996. Back at Wembley England needed extra time to defeat Denmark 2-1 after conceding for the first time in the tournament.
It was Harry Kane who scored the winning goal after England were given a penalty. Despite Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel saving the initial penalty, Kane tucked in the rebound. The day after the match UEFA announced they were charging England after someone shone a laser pointer at Schmeichel before the penalty
Fans across the country watched England progress like these in Bristol.
Fans in Plymouth watched on a big screen in the stadium
These fans in Leeds celebrate as England make it to their first major final since 1966, and we all know what happened then!