Should Gareth Southgate step down as England manager?

While the reaction to their performance in Qatar has generally been more positive than to previous World Cup defeats, the lingering question of 'what if?' continues to hang over the nation.

It is a different question which Southgate is pondering, having admitted that he is considering his future in charge of the Three Lions, despite having a contract until after Euro 2024.

Debate has raged as to whether the 52-year-old will go down as one of England's best-ever managers or another one who has underperformed with a talented group of players at his disposal.

Here, the Sports Mole team discuss whether they think Southgate should leave his role as England boss.

Barney Corkhill, Editor

It is such a difficult one with Southgate, as it's very much a case of 'will the grass be greener on the other side?'

There is no doubting that his record at major tournaments makes him one of England's most successful managers - a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, a first-ever European Championship final and a World Cup quarter-final is not a bad CV for a team like England, who have so often faltered in the latter stages of major tournaments.

Still the question burns as to whether a different manager could achieve more, though; after all, Southgate was not England's top choice in the first place - Sam Allardyce was - and his only previous tastes of management came in a disappointing spell in charge of Middlesbrough and then as England Under-21 boss.

There are certainly more accomplished managers available, then, but high-profile foreign bosses have fared worse than Southgate with arguably an even better set of players than those currently at Southgate's disposal.

This current crop have the potential to win a major trophy, and they were so close to dumping out world champions France in a wide-open World Cup last week, and whether a Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino or Eddie Howe would be able to get more out of them is a question we may have to wait to find out the answer to.

I feel Southgate's record at major tournaments means he deserves to see out his contract, and it is telling that any decision to leave the post would likely be Southgate's rather than the FA's.

However, if he does leave, then his greatest legacy may well be uniting England and making it a desirable job for a manager - and a desirable assignment for a player - which was not necessarily the case during the 'Golden Generation' and before his arrival.

Darren Plant, Senior Reporter

On some level, there has always been the feeling that Gareth Southgate has been punching above his weight as England manager. That is probably why alternatives are linked to the role on a regular basis. Nevertheless, England's worst major performance in three attempts has come when a group of players that Southgate has helped nurture are not far off their peak.

That is something which will no doubt be taken into consideration. England will have to perform well in qualifying to even make it to Euro 2024, yet the current expectation among the squad, media and fanbase is that the Three Lions are already among the favourites to lift the trophy in Germany. Can Southgate really afford to turn down that opportunity?

Southgate has spoken about fatigue from everything which goes hand-in-hand with the England job, but he must contemplate how he would feel if he watched someone else win the European Championship in his place. Southgate isn't a selfish man - maybe he doesn't consider that factor in the slightest - but with two years remaining on his contract, the timing of any resignation over the coming days and weeks would feel bizarre when there is an opportunity to conclude his reign with the silverware that he and this squad are more than capable of achieving.

Marvellous Adepoju, Reporter

No. Contrary to popular opinion, I feel Southgate has actually done a decent job as manager of the Three Lions since his appointment.

While there are some understandable groans amongst the England faithful with respect to the 54-year-old's stint at the helm of affairs, he should be given one more major tournament to oversee.

Joel Lefevre, Reporter

I don't think there's any question Gareth Southgate has made his share of tactical blunders - 'Exhibit A' being last weekend against France when he failed to bring on some fresh legs after Harry Kane equalised and with Les Bleus seemingly on the ropes.

It was additionally puzzling to see him bring on Raheem Sterling, given the whirlwind he'd gone through, and also take Bukayo Saka off as he looked like the best player on the pitch against the world champions, causing their backline all sorts of issues.

However, I do believe the FA would be wise to keep him on board as he's created a belief within this squad that was missing under Roy Hodgson; Southgate's taken this team to new heights and achieved things that no England manager has been able to do since Bobby Robson, guiding them to a World Cup semi-final, the last eight in successive tournaments and the final of the previous Euros.

He's done a fantastic job regarding player development among the English youth. He has managed to get the best out of some players struggling at the club level, such as Harry Maguire and Sterling. Add to that the camaraderie that we see, and I think the FA would be making a mistake by sacking him, as it could damage the overall brotherhood we see within this group.

Southgate's situation reminds me of former German boss Joachim Low, who fell several times in the latter stages of major competitions before capturing the World Cup in 2014. He was given time to keep working and building that young team, and they eventually broke through. I believe it would be wise to give Southgate until the next Euros to get things right, as he's done more good than bad with the Three Lions for my money.

Carter White, Reporter

If Gareth Southgate is fully committed to leading England to the conclusion of Euro 2024 he should without doubt stay on as manager.

The Three Lions are consistently reaching the latter stages of major tournaments under Southgate and are continuing to evolve tactically to control games against elite opposition.

The stability Southgate provides in an England camp that was once an unhappy place to be should be not disregarded, and with a lot of top European nations currently in transition, this talented crop of young players do not need a tactical genius on the sidelines in order to win Euro 2024.

George Priestman, Reporter

Southgate has united the country over the last three major tournaments, and brought English football back to a very strong place and he's earned the right to go when he wants.

However, it doesn't change the fact he's limited tactically as a manager and with this highly-talented squad, we need someone to take it to the next level and, deep down, I think we all know Southgate won't be the man to do so.