England: Pochettino steps up pressure on Southgate ahead of World Cup


  • England coach Gareth Southgate is already under fire after a disastrous Nations League campaign and will not be allowed to make any mistakes at the 2022 World Cup. It’s not just a matter of the coach’s ability to get the job done, it’s also a matter of his ability to get the job done… 

    Mauricio Pochettino could see himself on the England bench.
    “I’m not stupid. I know that at the end of the day I will be judged on what happens at this World Cup.”

    Back in September, England manager Gareth Southgate was clear about his situation. After a failed Nations League campaign, the British coach, despite having a contract until 2024, will be gambling his job at the 2022 World Cup.

Pochettino clearly opens the door

In fact, for several weeks now, one name has been circulating with insistence as a possible replacement in the event of a failure in Qatar: Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine coach has been free since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer and is highly regarded across the Channel after his successful stints at Southampton and Tottenham. And just before the start of the World Cup, the former PSG coach has decided to increase the pressure on Southgate by showing his interest in the job!

The former PSG coach said: “If it’s possible (to see him in charge of the England team)? Of course, my relationship with England has always been very good. I feel really comfortable here. You never know what’s going to happen. I’m open to anything,” said the new consultant for The Athletic. A statement that obviously did not go unnoticed in England…

The last square or…

Why? Because several observers have been calling for a change of coach for several months. And Southgate will have to meet the expectations of this tournament (see article here). The former Aston Villa player has been at his best so far in the major tournaments: a third place at the 2018 World Cup and an unfortunate finalist status at Euro 2020.

The problem is that the Three Lions are going through a complicated period with an ongoing series of 6 games without a win, including a humiliating defeat at home against Hungary (0-4) last June. To stay in his job, Southage will have to reach the goal set by his federation: the semi-finals.

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