Southgate knows that World Cup will decide his future
England manager Gareth Southgate is determined to still be in post for the Euro 2024 reunion with Italy but knows that hinges on how his side do at the World Cup.
England have been drawn against their Euro 2020 final conquerors in qualification Group C for the next Euro finals in Germany, along with Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.
South gate is contracted until the end of those finals but accepts he will be judged first on the World Cup in Qatar next month.
He said: “I’m contracted to this time in 2024, but I am also well aware that in football you have to get results. So the plan is there and the desire for continuity is there, too, but I also don’t take for granted that you underperform and expect to stay in that office.”
His team struggled for form at times during the Nations League campaign, which included a defeat to Italy in Milan and a goalless draw at home.
Wales appear to have a good chance of qualifying after they
were drawn in Group D alongside 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia.
Coach Rob Page said: “I think we’re pretty pleased with the group. We’ve avoided some teams like Belgium.”
Republic of Ireland face a daunting task to qualify from Group B after being drawn alongside world champions France as well as the Netherlands. Greece and Gibraltar round out the group.
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said: “Most countries would want to avoid France as the second seed, but that’s the reality [for us]. It presents a great challenge also and one that we must embrace.”
Northern Ireland were in pot five and have been placed in Group H, one of the three six-team groups, alongside
Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino.
Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus
Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar
Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Malta
Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey, Latvia
Group E: Poland, Czech Rep, Albania, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group F: Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Estonia
Group G: Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Lithuania
Group H: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, San Marino
Group I: Switzerland. Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, Andorra
Group J: Portugal, Bosnia/herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein