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Gareth Southgate is still undecided over his England future (Image: GETTY)
Gareth Southgate has yet to make his mind up on whether he will leave his position as England manager after the Euro 2024 final. But the 53-year-old says his future will not be decided solely by the result this weekend.
Southgate admits he would not have had any say in the decision if his team had have crashed out in the group stage. But his fate is in his own handsafter England's showdown with Spain.
It has been a wild ride for the Three Lions in Germany which will conclude in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday night. They have faced a lot of criticism for their performances but have also enjoyed some memorable moments en route to the final.
After winning only one of three group games, England were seconds from an early exit against Slovakia in the round of 16. That was until Jude Bellingham's 95th-minute overhead kick which helped inspire an extra time comeback.
The Three Lions are among the favourites to win this summer's Euro 2024 tournament and you can get your hands on the brand new Nike home and away kits before the first whistle.
Southgate is out of contract in December and there were calls earlier in the tournament for England to move on from their boss. Many have suggested he will end his eight-year tenure whatever the result in the German capital this weekend.
The squad themselves are eager for him to stay on but Southgate is still undecided. He told Sky News when asked if it would be hard to walk away if England win the final: "Nothing's that difficult, but emotionally it would be impossible for me to make a logical decision at the moment on any of that.
"Because my sole focus for two years has been winning this tournament. The last five, six weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster, so I don't actually know where I am with anything other than, very focused on preparing the team for this game, and determined to keep leading them in the way we have over the last month.
"I know what it [winning] would mean not only to the general public in England, but particularly to people involved in English football - from those that develop young players to those that run clubs to every level of the game.
Gareth Southgate is desperate to lead England to Euros glory (Image: GETTY)
"Really, I think we've improved the credibility of English football in how it's perceived around the world. But ultimately, until you win that trophy, then there will always be those questions, both abroad and at home, about what we've done."
Southgate added in a separate interview that he would have been axed had England's tournament gone differently.
He explained: "The way my emotions have gone over the last five weeks, it would be ridiculous for me to think about anything beyond this game. We've got time to make decisions - and I won't need weeks.
"But also I think I've earned the right to give myself a few days just to think things through. I know where it would have been if we went out in the group stage, that's for sure. I have a pretty good idea in my head. I don't think that would necessarily have been my choice."
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Gareth Southgate's England are underdogs against Spain (Image: GETTY)
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Midfielder Declan Rice insists the England squad, who have been led by Southgate since 2016, would love him to remain in charge for the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico in two years' time.
The Arsenal player said: "This journey he has been on has been so special - and hopefully we can do something special for Gareth on Sunday. I know for a fact, the lads would love him to stay on until 2026.
"There is no doubt about that. The way he looks after us, how calm he is, how he is as a man-manager, how he is on the training pitch. He's top. None of us have spoken to him about it, that's none of our business.
"Whatever he wants to do, whatever makes him happy, I'm sure he'll make the right decision. But I'm sure he's got the backing of everyone to stay."