Gareth Southgate has praised the FA for their “brilliant support” - but is unwilling to discuss his long term future.
Southgate is under contract until 2024, the Football Association want him to stay on until at least the next Euros and the players have made it clear they are behind him. But Southgate has already warned that he will not stay where he is not wanted after the fans turned on him in the summer when England had a nightmare Nations League campaign.
England boss Southgate has been asked about his future, and he told ITV : “I’ve got two years left on my contract, well, 18 months, and I’m thinking about France on Saturday nothing else.
“Well, what has been brilliant is when very few other people wanted me to stay they (the FA) have always been very supportive so as a manager you value that support.”
Southgate has been in charge of England since 2016 and has taken charge of 80 matches, winning 49, drawing 18 and losing 13. After the Qatar World Cup finishes, the next tournament will be Euro 2024, which is scheduled to run from June 14 to July 14 in Germany.
Southgate has also hinted heavily that Raheem Sterling is unlikely to be involved against France as the England star flew back to Qatar ahead of the World Cup quarter final. Sterling returned home to London this week after his family home was broken into and Southgate stressed his full support for the Chelsea forward but fears he has missed too much training to be involved.
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Southgate said: “We will have to assess that. He has missed a lot of training and had two long flights. That is not good preparation for a game of this standard but let’s see how he is.
“He has felt the need to support his family and to be there for his family and that is a simple decision for me – I have to support the player. I remember Fabian Delph going home, his wife was expecting in Russia. We did the same thing.
“There are moments for every individual where family becomes most important. I’m always supportive of that. Of course I want the best players available and want to win football matches. But as a manager you have to recognise there are certain moments in people’s lives that are more important at that particular time.”
England face France at the Al Bayt Stadium at 7pm UK time on Saturday following their 3-0 win over Senegal in the previous round. Sterling flew back to England to be with his family following a robbery at his Surrey home on Saturday evening, the day before the Senegal game.
