Don't rush to judge...verdict on boss could take years

True impact of Southgate will be known only once he has left

- Dan Kilpatrick

BEFORE the final, Gareth Southgate had acknowledged that the result would define him “in the eyes of others”; win and achieve immortality; lose and face being remembered as a ‘nearly man’.

If defeat by Spain was to be Southgate’s last stand with England — which remains unclear today — there will inevitably be suggestions that he failed.

The Southgate-truthers can say he taught England to navigate their way through knockout games, but could not lead them over the line when it really mattered.

His critics will feel vindicated in suggesting that the manager held back this vibrant and talented squad which, after all, was considered stronger than Spain’s before the tournament.

Southgate’s many achievements, including leading England’s men further than ever before on foreign soil and to twice as many major finals as every one of his predecessors combined, will be dismissed as secondary because they had to win, but could not.

Southgate knows this, which is why he admitted before a ball was kicked that Euro 2024 was effectively win or bust for him.

The manner of last night’s defeat, England sitting back at 1-1 and conceding against arguably the first elite team they faced in Germany, will only embolden the sceptics.

In reality, though, if England had won, the same doubters would have dug in and accused them of not winning well enough or winning in spite of their head coach.

There is no pleasing some people; Southgate knows this, too.