Former England captain Alan Shearer believes the defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship final will likely be Gareth Southgate’s last game as manager.
Nico Williams had broken the deadlock at the start of the second half, but substitute Cole Palmer equalised and gave England hope again.
However, Mikel Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal in the last minute and secured Spain a 2-1 victory in Berlin on Sunday.
Speculation now turns to the future of Southgate, who led England to the final of Euro 2020 three years ago but suffered a similar fate against Italy.
The 53-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the year and although he stresses he will take time to reflect on his position, Shearer believes Southgate’s time is up.
“I suspect he might say, ‘transfer to someone else’. I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game,” said former Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle striker Shearer, who was part of the England team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 1996 under Southgate.
“It will be a big disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more offensively, but they are in the final – but when you are here, you have to get over the finish line.”
“The reality is that he took us to the final three years ago (at Euro 2020) and he took us to the final here and didn’t win. That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker, who reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, also believes the demands of what is often described as an “impossible job” have taken their toll on Southgate.
“I suspect Gareth Southgate has had enough,” Lineker said on BBC One.
“It’s a hard, grueling job.”
Rio Ferdinand – part of England’s so-called “Golden Generation” that also failed at the World Cup and European Championships – felt Southgate should have gotten more out of this squad.
“You have to look at the talent pool we have and I don’t think we are putting them in the best position possible,” said the former Leeds and Manchester United centre-back.
“I think the manager deserves criticism for this. The FA is facing an important decision.”
“When the game was still open, we were always a team that was kept on a leash. That’s the disappointing thing about the quality of players we have in this squad.”
Former England defender Matt Upson felt Southgate’s team lacked an identity.
“It wasn’t easy to follow England,” Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It was difficult because there was no clear style or plan.
“Gareth has made a lot of good decisions, but when you compare that to the team in red (Spain) and how they approach this tournament and take it apart, it’s a difference like night and day.”