Southgate accepts future will hinge on England's performance at World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Under-fire Gareth Southgate knows his future will be dictated by England's World Cup performance rather than previous successes or the fact his contract runs until 2024. Few could have predicted how the team's fortunes would improve under the 57-cap former defender, who was initially brought in as interim boss following Sam Allardyce's shock exit in September 2016. Southgate led England on an unforgettable run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago and within a penalty shootout of European Championship glory last summer. The 52-year-old was subsequently rewarded with a new deal until 2024 but things have gone awry of late, with embarrassing defeats home and away to Hungary compounded in Italy on Friday. The 1-0 loss led to relegation from the top tier of the Nations League and boos being aimed at Southgate, whose future is under scrutiny with the side winless in five games ahead of the World Cup. "I am not foolish," the England boss said ahead of Monday's game against Germany. "My sole focus at the moment is to get the team right for (Monday) night. "We're focused on a good performance, a good result, then you're looking towards the World Cup. And I know ultimately I will be judged on what happens at that World Cup. "Contracts are irrelevant in football because managers can have three, four, five-year contracts and if results aren't good enough then you accept that's time to part ways. "Why would I be any different? I'm not arrogant enough to think that having a contract should protect me in any way from results."
