‘I want Southgate as England boss at next World Cup’ – pundits on Euros aftermath

England manager Gareth Southgate “is the man in charge” and should lead the team in the next World Cup despite their Euro 2024 final defeat, says former Everton midfielder Leon Osman.

Southgate’s future is the subject of intense speculation after the Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in the showpiece final in Berlin.

He said “now was not the time” to announce if he would stay on as manager after Sunday’s defeat, with his current contract due to expire in December.

Southgate has guided England to back-to-back European Championship finals as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.

However, his tactics came in for criticism from former England players as well as fans during Euro 2024.

Osman, who won two England caps, told The Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live that he wanted Southgate to stay.

“We’ll just remember in 20 years or so we got the latter stages of four tournaments on the run and we had those moments, we had those house parties, we had those moments with our families watching games,” said Osman.

“We might never have a stretch like this again and it’s something we should actually be proud of.”

Asked whether he thinks Southgate will stay on as England manager, Osman added: “Yes I do. I want him to be [England manager]. I know it’s been frustrating and I know we have had our moments where we all think he should have done this differently.

“But he is the man in charge, he is the man who despite performances in this particular tournament, we’ve been to two finals.

“So yes – force him to keep the job.”