Chris Waddle has called for a major shake-up after disappointing performances from England at Euro 2024.
The former FWA Footballer of the Year believes that the FA should be doing all that they can to get Man City Manager Pep Guardiola for the England job. Guardiola, who has been the most successful manager in the Premier League since taking over at City, is rumoured to be walking away from the Manchester club in 2025.
Waddle did not mince his words when criticising Gareth Southgate’s approach and England’s Euros performances to date and has speculated on what could be next for the current England manager.
This Is the Worst England Have Looked at a Major Tournament
FA Need To Be On The Phone To Guardiola To Replace Southgate
There is a lot of talk about Guardiola leaving after this year, does he know that Manchester City are going to get relegated? It's weird that he has come out and said he will have one more year, but I have heard he wants an international job at a side with potential.
There's your job; if I was the FA, I would be making sure to speak to him right now. I'd be on the phone to his representatives, asking if he would like to be the next England manager after Gareth Southgate. You're not going to get a better manager than him.
If not him, then you start to look at the likes of Eddie Howe, or Graham Potter. There isn't a lot of international experience, and England need a manager who is going to come in and tell the FA to let them manage their own way. Someone like Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp would definitely get the best out of England.
I like Gareth and I think he has done a great job, but if he is going to leave then you have to go for the best, and not think about what could be. Go for someone who is proven.
*England are 8/15 favourites to advance to the semi-finals per the latest football odds at BoyleSports.
Southgate’s Future
Was Gareth thinking this was his last tournament anyway? Was he thinking about going into the next World Cup squad if he wins the Euros? The way it has gone so far, and if we lose to Switzerland, people will call it a disaster of a tournament in terms of performance.
He may be pushed anyway, regardless if he had thought about leaving. He's done very well and I think he has done very well. He has got to semi-finals, a final and a quarter-final. I know people think we should win everything, but there are a lot of good sides out there and we've competed with them all over the last eight years.
This is probably the worst I've seen England play in a tournament, I have got to say, but he will argue that we are unbeaten and into the quarter-finals. Things can only get better, you would hope!
England Are Euro 2024’s ‘Biggest Disappointment’
I've got to say, England have been the biggest disappointment in this Euros. I didn't want to say that, I wanted to say France, Germany or even Italy - because I didn't fancy them coming into the tournament because of how they struggled to qualify.
But out of all of the big hitters, England have been the biggest disappointment - even though they have got through without losing - they have been so disappointing.
Gareth Southgate Won’t Change ‘Woeful’ England
He will just roll his sleeves up and carry on sticking with his plan, this is how he plans to win the tournament and that is what he is going to do. Listen, everyone is an armchair expert and we want to pick a certain team, with certain players.
England Should Have Won Euro 2020
Gareth has had a lot of joy as England manager, but they should have won the last Euros against Italy. When you look back at that game, they should have won that game. They've been close in the World Cups, so he has had a great innings and he probably believes this is his time to lead England to a major tournament success.
He's had this group together for a long time, even if they are missing the likes of Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson - vocal leaders who have a lot of major tournament experience with England. These are big players for Gareth, and he is now trying to pick a side that can win the Euros.
Apart from half an hour in the first game against Serbia, we have been woeful and I just cannot see it happening. I wouldn't be surprised if everybody is fit, and he goes with the same team. He obviously has to change the centre-half due to suspension, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same XI.
But he keeps rolling out the same team and it is just not working, even though we are in the quarter-finals of the Euros!
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