In Gary Lineker’s opinion, no matter how England plays against Spain in the Euro 2024 final, Gareth Southgate will resign as manager.
Ahead of Sunday’s final in Berlin, Southgate’s Three Lions, who lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on penalties, have one more chance to put an end to 58 years of suffering and win their first European Championship.
Under Southgate, England has advanced far in four consecutive tournaments, including their trips to the quarterfinals of the Qatar World Cup, the final of Euro 2020, and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Spain stands in the way of England’s historic victory, and after an amazing and faultless journey to the Euro final, Luis de la Fuente’s team is the overwhelming favourite.
Naturally, Lineker is eager for England to win a European championship for the first time and hopes the team will “win it for Gareth” before he leaves his position as manager of the Three Lions.
Although Lineker thinks Southgate, 53, would “probably call it a day” regardless of the outcome of the final, the FA is eager for him to stay and lead England to the next World Cup in 2026.
“Win or lose, I believe Gareth will go,” Lineker stated to The Sun. Being the manager of England for such a long time is really challenging.
‘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.’