Euro 2024: Gareth Southgate to discuss England future after loss - ESPN

BERLIN — Gareth Southgate has said a decision over his England future is «not for now» and will speak to «important people behind the scenes» in the coming days after Sunday's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

The Three Lions became the first team ever to lose back-to-back Euro finals as Mikel Oyarzabal struck an 86th-minute winner to give Spain a deserved 2-1 win in Berlin.

Nico Williams had earlier given Spain a 47th-minute lead before substitute Cole Palmer equalised 17 minutes from time with a fine strike from the edge of the box.

Southgate's current contract expires in December and sources have told ESPN that the FA want the 53-year-old to remain in post for the 2026 World Cup having reached two finals, a semifinal and a quarter-final during his four tournaments in charge.

However, Southgate has faced sustained public criticism during these finals for his conservative approach and he told German newspaper Bild before the tournament that if England didn't lift their first men's trophy in 58 years, he would «probably not be here.»

Asked about his future, Southgate told ITV: «I don't think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I need to talk to the right people. It's not for now.»

Pushed further on the situation in his post-match news conference, Southgate said: «Look, I totally understand the question and understand that you need to ask it but I need to have those conversations with important people behind the scenes. I'm obviously not going to discuss that publicly first.

»Without a doubt, England have got some fabulous young players and even the young ones now have got a lot of experience of tournaments. Many of this squad are going to be in two, four, six, eight years' time.

«We have now been consistently