Gareth Southgate: ‘I want to lead England to Qatar World Cup’

Gareth Southgate has said that he hopes to manage England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The England boss led the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 final but needs a rest before entering into contract negotiations.

Southgate was speaking to the media on the morning after England’s Euro 2020 final penalty-shootout loss to Italy.

“As I sit here today, I would want to be taking the team to Qatar,” he said.

“We of course have to qualify for Qatar. I need some time to watch last night’s game again, to reflect on the tournament.

“I need a rest. It’s an amazing experience to lead your country in these tournaments, but it takes its toll.

“There’s a lot to think through. I feel we’ve made progress over four years. A lot of things we’ve done right and we know this team isn’t at its peak yet.

“When you’re in sport and you get to finals, those opportunities are so rare, so to be close, it’s very hard the day after. You have given everything – the emotions are drained.

“We will go again. It’s too easy to say we can go to the World Cup in Qatar and win – that’s a bit glib. We still have to qualify. You have to start the cycle again.

“But to be able to work with these players every day has been fantastic, so when it comes to the end like it has now, it’s hard.”

Southgate has led England to 39 wins in 61 games since taking charge in 2016, including a fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.

Cover Photo: “File:ENG-BEL (1).jpg” by Кирилл Венедиктов is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0