One of the quirks of football media is that everything must be predicted ahead of time – including things yet unannounced
This frenzied soothsaying comes around a few times a year, usually ahead of the transfer window opening, but, rarely, a day goes by without a new rumour.
The BBC has a weekly report dedicated to exactly that, which recently shot down a suggestion that Marcus Rashford would move to PSG, assured us that Douglas Luiz will remain at Aston Villa and that Roberto Mancini might be on his way to Newcastle, should Eddie Howe leave.
More on him later.
European Championships
Incumbent England coach Gareth Southgate is no stranger to gossip. Ever unpredictable, the English national side has seen its fair share of managers come and go, with around ten taking the reins since the turn of the millennium, many of which stayed for just the one year.
Southgate has been on this same merry-go-round since 2017, overseeing 91 games as well as a pair of World Cup campaigns (2018, 2022), a Nations League Finals (2019), and the European Championships of 2022. England famously made it to the final of the latter, losing 3-2 on penalties to Italy.
Even that historic achievement wasn’t good enough for everyone, however, and Southgate emerged from the tournament on his last legs, metaphorically speaking. Had he taken the Three Lions as far as they could go? Was it just time for the conveyor belt to move on?
The answer seems to be yes – but that’s more Southgate’s estimations than anybody else’s. The former defender has rung some ominous bells since that fateful night at Wembley Stadium, without really saying much at all.
Eddie Howe
Now, we come to Euro 2024. England will enter the June competition as joint 7/2 favourites with France, ahead of Germany, Spain, and Portugal. There are plenty of Euro 2024 free bets floating around already, with the consensus being that title-holders Italy won’t be competitive (16/1).
According to the man himself, Southgate will decide on his future after Euro 2024 is over – “You’ve got to see how the summer goes – it’s as simple as that”, he said, following the draw for the Nations League back in February.
So, what’s so ominous? Southgate is expected to leave. For instance, in November, the Goal website referred to his current employment as entering its “final days”, even if England does the seemingly impossible feat of winning Euro 2024.
For many, the simple admission of having a decision to make is enough evidence to start the speculation engine up again – and that’s exactly what has happened. Eddie Howe is 4/1 to replace Southgate, followed by an 8/1 trio of Graham Potter, Jurgen Klopp, and Pep Guardiola.
Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman is on the list (20/1), too.
For England, everything seems make-or-break now, as it so frequently does. A win at Euro 2024 would forever enshrine Southgate in English folklore but, whatever happens, there’s a good chance the big chair is no longer in his destiny.