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England legend Gary Lineker has compared Gareth Southgate’s situation in the Three Lions dugout to that of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The former striker says England’s lack of success at major tournaments is much like Man City’s lack of success in the Champions League.
He noted that just because Guardiola hasn’t lifted the European trophy with the Manchester outfit, it doesn’t mean they should sack him.
The same situation, therefore, applies to Southgate and England not winning the World Cup, according to Lineker, as reported by LiveScore.
England ‘going in right direction’ under Southgate
Southgate is yet to make a decision on his England future, with the boss recently telling the FA that he needs some time to make his mind up.
He took the Three Lions to the last eight of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing out on a place in the semi-finals to defending champions France. They recorded their highest-ever goal tally in Qatar, scoring 13 times throughout the competition.
There has been both praise and criticism for the manager, with ex-England striker Lineker on the side of the former.
“Take Manchester City, probably the best club side in the world, but they haven’t won the Champions League and they haven’t won it under Pep Guardiola, who is the best coach in the world,” said Lineker.
“No one would say, ‘let’s get Pep out because we haven’t won the Champions League,’ because that would be madness.
“We haven’t won the World Cup but we’re going in the right direction. England are playing really good, attractive football with lots of exciting young players. Why would you mess with it now?”
Lineker hoping for Southgate stay
Southgate’s contract with England is through Euro 2024, with qualification for the tournament getting underway in March 2023. The Three Lions will take on Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta in their bid to reach the competition in Germany.
Southgate previously took England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, as well as the final of Euro 2020.
He now has a very exciting young squad at his disposal, but it remains to be seen if he will be the man in charge of that squad at the next major tournament.
Lineker, who is England’s top scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals, wants the current boss to continue his spell in charge of the country.
“I do hope Gareth stays,” said Lineker. “I think it’s right that the decision is down to him. He’s done a really good job, you’ve got to consider where we were a few years ago.
“Everyone thinks it’s an easy job and everyone thinks: ‘I’d have played him and not him, or brought him on earlier and not him.’ It’s very easy in hindsight.
“I think Gareth has done a really good job. The only thing you’d say about him is sometimes he hasn’t changed things dramatically in games where it’s not going well.
“It’s very easy to be judgemental but World Cups are not leagues. In a league, the best team always wins. In a World Cup, it’s a knockout.”
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