Southgate 'will take time' to consider future after World Cup exit
England manager, Gareth Southgate said he would take time before making a decision on his future after their defeat against France.
After the game, Gareth Southgate who is under contract with England until 2024 said he needs time to decide on his future.
He said:
"Whenever I have finished these tournaments I have needed time to make the correct decision because you go through so many feelings.
"I want to make the right decision, whatever that is for the team, for England and for the Football Association. It's right to take some time to do that because I know how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of previous tournaments.
"It's the decision to go again, it's a lot of energy and you have to make sure you're ready for that. There are Euro qualifiers in March and there's too much in my head to think about that tonight.
"I wanted to focus on this tournament and I think we've given a really good account of ourselves. But in the end only one team wins and we've fallen just short."
Southgate believes his team showed their best performance against a major nation in the period he has been in charge against France and said he is proud of his players.
Southgate added:
"I think it's the best we've played against a major nation in the period I have been in charge but the scoreline is all that matters.
"They know how close they've come. They know they've pushed a top nation all the way. We had more possession, more attempts on goal…I am very proud of how they've been, not just tonight but throughout the tournament.
"We've shown a different face in terms of how we've played. We wanted to go toe to toe with the top nations, that's how we approached this tournament and we've done that. There's so much to be excited about given the age of some of the players.
"We've shown the rest of the world that English football is healthy and we have some very good players, not just for now but for the future as well."
Southgate also defended England captain Harry Kane who missed a penalty to equalize the game late in the second half.
"He's very low but he's got nothing to reproach himself for,"
he said.
"We're in the position we are as a team due to his goals and his leadership over a long period of time. The result was due to 100 minutes of football and things that happened at both ends of the pitch.
"Even if the penalty goes in we've still got a lot to do to win the game. We win and lose together.
"It was difficult when you get a second penalty against a goalkeeper you know very well [Kane's Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris]. Even the best are going to miss at times, that's football.
"But there's no-one I'd rather have in that situation and if we got a penalty tomorrow I'd feel the same way.
"It's cruel for him because he will feel disappointed in himself, but he shouldn't."
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