Southgate set for Qatar

GARETH SOUTHGATE will be England’s manager until at least the next World Cup in Qatar if he achieves the straightforward goal of qualifying for Euro 2020, it can be revealed.

Such is the Football Association’s support of Southgate that it is understood a two-year extension to his deal, which ends in 2020, will be triggered once qualification for the expanded European Championship in that year has been secured.

It had previously been thought that his continuation would be dependent on his performance at the tournament, which will be played around Europe, with several matches, including the final, being held in England.

Southgate came into this World Cup knowing that even if he failed to get the national team out of the group, his job would not be under threat.

The former England defender has been hugely impressive since he succeeded Sam Allardyce, with the FA understanding that it needed to back a manager for the long haul. The FA appointed Southgate on a four-year deal in November 2016, with the two-year extension in that contract, after taking charge of the senior team in an interim capacity for four games.

Southgate (47) has built on that impressive work in Russia where he has guided England to a quarter-final tie against Sweden in Samara tomorrow.

With that in mind, it would be no surprise if the FA even decided to renegotiate his contract anyway as a reward for what he has achieved so far. Southgate knows that despite the current success there is no quick fix and a great deal of work to be done.

“I’m a long way from perfect. I think it’s dangerous territory if I start to get carried away with things but I am proud of the way the team is playing,” he said last night. (© Daily Telegraph, London)