Gareth Southgate told his England future boils down to four players

Paul Ince has highlighted the exciting talent pool at Gareth Southgate's disposal, suggesting that current players like Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo could be pivotal in persuading the England manager to extend his tenure beyond Euro 2024.

With the England squad reaching yet another Euros final, this time set against Spain, all eyes are on Southgate's leadership as he stands on the verge of cementing a historic achievement for the nation. Despite rampant speculation about his managerial future, with his contract slated to expire in December, Southgate has remained silent on his commitments during the ongoing competition.

The prospect of Southgate ending his eight-year association with the England team post-final has been widely debated, but ex-England skipper Ince believes that the lure of guiding a youthful and promising squad could sway Southgate to stay on for the 2026 World Cup charge.

During an exclusive chat with Ladbrokes 1-2-Free, Ince, also renowned for his iconic stint at Manchester United, said: "I think, if we win on Sunday, Gareth [Southgate]'s got a big decision to make. If he wins it, he might want to take this squad to the World Cup in a couple of years... they're still relatively young".

Adding personal insight, Ince added: "That's what I'd be thinking, if it was me, personally. If he loses it, he might then think about stepping down and taking a look at club football again. Eight years is a long time to be England manager. It's a lot."

The former midfielder also underscored the intense pressures associated with the national team management, highlighting the extraordinary stress borne by those at the helm, especially given the towering expectations from England supporters.

He said: "Maybe he'll want to step down and take a break, but if they win it on Sunday, I think he'd be a fool not to take this squad to America in a couple of years from now.

"When you look at the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. These guys are only going to get better. Why would you not want to challenge yourself as a manager of that squad on the biggest stage at the World Cup?"

Southgate could secure his place in history by becoming the first England men's manager to lift the European Championship, etching his name alongside Sir Alf Ramsey as one of the country's greatest sporting managers in what could be his final tournament at the helm.