Former England boss Gareth Southgate reveals he turned down World Cup role

Sir Gareth Southgate has revealed that he turned down a role as a TV pundit at the World Cup.

The former England boss didn’t believe that him providing insight into the team he coached to two European Championship finals would be beneficial to them.

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Speaking on Instagram, Southgate said:  “Hey everybody, now the World Cup is underway, and we’re still a few days away from England playing, I thought it would be a good point just to leave a little message.

“It’s obviously a very different tournament for me, this one. I’ve been at the last seven World Cups as a player, as a broadcaster, as a scout and then as the manager.

“This time I took a conscious decision not to do the TV.

“I didn’t think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team and I don’t want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them in press conferences.

“Best for me to keep out the way but I just wanted to take a moment to say good luck to all the boys.

“I know all the big knockout nights that we’ve had mean they are going to be full of confidence going into this tournament.

“They’ve overcome so many hurdles to winning, penalty shootouts, semi-finals, got so close and they’re ready to win.

“I’m looking forward to watching, get behind the boys. I know how important your support is to them.

“I hope everybody has a great month and I’ll be staying out of the way!”

Southgate’s England reign

Southgate was England manager for eight years before stepping down immediately after Euro 2024.

The Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in the final in Berlin, and the Englishman decided that was enough.

He took over after Euro 2016, which had seen Roy Hodgson‘s England lose to Iceland in one of the worst defeats in England’s history.

In his first major tournament, Southgate took his team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

They were beaten by eventual runners-up Croatia before the delayed Euro 2020.

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There, England made the final only to lose in a penalty shootout at Wembley to Italy.

At the 2022 World Cup, the Three Lions blew Iran, Wales and Senegal away, but a missed Harry Kane penalty against France proved to be decisive.

England lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals to Didier Deschamps‘ men.

And in Euro 2024, England scrapped their way to the final but couldn’t get over the line.

England vs Croatia

The Three Lions get their World Cup campaign underway later this week against their 2018 opponents.

Thomas Tuchel‘s side are one of the favourites to claim glory in North America, but Croatia’s World Cup pedigree has been excellent.

They have made it to back-to-back semi-finals thanks to their golden generation led by Luka Modric.

Modric will take part in his final World Cup, and on paper, this is the toughest match England face in the group.

But with how the groups now work, a win would put England into an excellent position early on.