Reporter notebook: Hard to see how Gareth Southgate is anything but a hindrance to England's future

Gareth Southgate's team felt crushed and exhausted after their match in Berlin. The England manager seemed just as deflated.

He weakly waved at the tired England fans who had gathered at the team's fancy hotel in the middle of Berlin to watch them leave. However, there was no happiness on his face, just tiredness. The days of Southgate being loved by the nation are over, and he is aware of it.

I don't see any situation where he would choose to continue in his position. I believe the era of Southgate as England's manager is over, and I think the FA executives are aware of that as well. The choice ultimately lies with Southgate.

Please utilize the Chrome browser to access the video player more easily.

Despite not making any public statements, the FA has subtly communicated to Southgate their desire for him to continue as England's manager and guide the team to the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

However, the upcoming finals appear to be in the distant future. It is uncertain if the individual who has managed four significant tournaments will be prepared to participate in the Group B of the Nations League against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in six weeks. I highly doubt it.

The Germany 2024 match has caused a lot of pain for Southgate. It has really affected him. He bravely talked in the media about how he can ignore all the distractions that come with the tough job of being a manager.

However, a lot of what he says is just for show, and a kind effort as the head of the group, to shield his players from any negative consequences. It is commendable that Southgate tries to absorb all the negativity himself in order to shield the team, but it is also unrealistic to think that none of it affects him.

We recommend using the Chrome browser to easily access the video player.

According to reports, Southgate felt betrayed by the blunt and straightforward feedback from former England players such as Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.

They have experienced it firsthand and as Harry Kane emphatically stated, they were among the many England players throughout history who have failed to win a significant trophy. Therefore, they should be more measured in their criticism.

However, I believe Southgate is completely fed up with the constant criticism and frequent abuse he gets from a significant portion of England fans. It can be very unpleasant.

Let's be honest - it's not just a small group of England fans who want him to leave, believing he lacks the strategic skills to maximize the potential of a top-tier group of players - it's a considerable number.

Make sure to use the Chrome browser if you want to watch the video player easily.

I was present at the games in Frankfurt and Cologne, where I watched the match between the teams from Denmark and Slovenia. During these games, I heard the stadium announcer announce the players' line-ups and the name of the coach.

The crowd at the England end loudly booed when Southgate's name was mentioned, showing that it wasn't just a few people who disagreed. It was the dedicated fans who spend a lot of money to support England at home and abroad.

During the Euro 2020 tournament in Germany, I only heard England fans singing their anthem "Southgate you're the one, football's coming home again" once out of seven matches over a period of 33 days.

As we approached the Berlin Olympic Stadium an hour before the start of the 2024 final, we could hear a chant in the air. To be honest, it was only coming from around six England fans who seemed to have had a few drinks.

For an easier time watching videos, we recommend using the Chrome browser.

The most severe abuse occurred in Cologne following the disappointing 0-0 draw with Slovenia. Southgate was attacked with tossed plastic beer cups by a small group of fans as he walked off the field.

I believe that was Southgate's lowest point, the moment when he decided he had had enough. This moment will be remembered along with other embarrassing times for some of the past England managers: Graham Taylor being mocked in the tabloids with a turnip superimposed on his image, and Steve McClaren's embarrassing moment at Wembley in 2008 being called a "Wolly with a Brolly".

Southgate mentioned the incident with the plastic beer cups multiple times as England advanced to the knockout stages in Germany whenever he was questioned about the challenges he was facing.

We recommend using the Chrome web browser to easily access the video player.

He spoke vaguely about the "unique setting" he has been working in, about the "emotional ups and downs" of this tournament, and how it is "unusual" to have beer cups thrown at you.

England had not played well in most of the group matches, but they had managed to stay undefeated and finish first in Group C. Southgate couldn't understand why so many people were upset about their performance. He felt like it was directed at him personally, which, to be honest, it probably was.

Southgate acknowledged the current state of the world and the role he may have played in it. While he recognizes the criticisms directed towards him, he emphasized the importance of supporting the players.

Kindly utilize the Chrome web browser for a smoother video viewing experience.

When thinking about whether Southgate will continue in his current role or not, take a look at what has happened recently. He came close to leaving after the mistreatment he faced in Wolverhampton two summers ago, following the humiliating 4-0 loss to Hungary at home.

After the previous World Cup in Qatar, he shared that he had considered quitting multiple times. He stated that he would only continue in the role if he believed he could support the team rather than hold them back.

The current issue is that it's difficult to see Southgate as anything but a setback for England's prospects. That may sound harsh, but it's accurate. He's facing a growing opposition - a group of dedicated fans, journalists, and experts who have soured on him and are pushing for his removal. It's a challenging situation to recover from.

However, it is undeniable that history will view Southgate's time as England's manager positively. With the exception of Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966, no other manager has had as much success in tournaments as Southgate.

Quarter-final and semi-final matches in the World Cup; consecutive finals in the European Championship. For those fans who are eager to see him go, there is a strong feeling of, as David Seaman warned me before the Berlin final, "Watch out for what you wish for."

A lot of people believe Southgate has many talented English players to pick from, and he should be getting better results from them. This is a valid point. However, previous England managers have also faced similar criticism. Do you remember the "Golden Generation" of the 2000s?

That was a term created by the former FA chief executive Adam Crozier to describe players such as David Beckham, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, and others.

During that time period, England reached the quarter-finals in three major tournaments but did not qualify for Euro 2008. The current team has not achieved the same level of success.

Watching Southgate board the England team bus for the last time in Germany, heading to Berlin's Brandenburg Airport with his squad, there was a feeling of closure.

He mentioned that he will take a short while to consider if he wants to continue or not. He won't drag out the decision. "We have time to decide and I won't take weeks, but I believe I deserve to take a few days to reflect on things."

Southgate is in a unique position as the manager of England where he has the ability to choose his own destiny, to determine if he will continue in his role or if he will step down. I believe he has already made up his mind and will reveal his decision to us soon, putting an end to the uncertainty.