Gareth Southgate predicts England departure if World Cup does not go to plan

Gareth Southgate does not expect to be England manger next year if the World Cup is a failure, despite his contract running until December 2024.

The Three Lions boss earned a lengthy contract thanks to runs to the semi-final of the World Cup in 2018 and the final of the European Championship last summer.

However, he is under increasing pressure after that defeat to Italy at Wembley, with England going five games without a win, including two defeats to Hungary, one of which was a 4-0 humbling at Molineux.

Another loss to Italy last week takes England into their final game before the World Cup against Germany at Wembley on Monday night and Southgate knows he must turn results around to save his job.

His contract may run for more than two years, but he is well aware he will likely be out of a job if the Three Lions continue to falter when they get to Qatar.

I am not foolish,’ Southgate said ahead of the Nations League clash with Germany. ‘My sole focus at the moment is to get the team right for tomorrow and then we are focusing on a good performance and a good result. 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 you accept that, if results are not good enough it is time to go your separate ways. Why would I be any different? I am not arrogant enough to think that my contract is going to protect me in any way.

‘We understand how the mood changes with the results and has changed. I am realistic about that and I will be judged on what we do in Qatar and I am perfectly happy to be judged in that way. History is history and you are judged on the next match and the next tournament.’

From the superb times of a semi-final in Russia and a final on home soil, things have soured for Southgate, with fans booing the team off on more than one occasion this year.

The England boss is dealing with injuries and a remarkable loss of form at club level for some of his players and he is trying to ride the wave with a smile on his face, which he says is a predictable cycle in football.

‘I have been in football for 30 years, I have seen pretty much everything,’ said the 52-year-old. ‘I have seen the cycle of war with the media. I have seen the absolute love-in and we are somewhere in the middle of that — or maybe not quite in the middle.

‘That is fascinating to observe from my side and it is a life experience I knew at some stage would probably come with this job.’

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