Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has revealed he has a ticket lined up for the World Cup final, stating that if the national side makes it through, he “wants to be there”. The 55-year-old made the comments ahead of Thomas Tuchel naming his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in North America.
Speaking at an event in Los Angeles, Sir Gareth said he was “not missing” having to inform players they were not part of the team, describing those conversations as “some of the most horrendous conversations I ever had”. He added that he would give the team space and not do media this summer to avoid adding pressure on Tuchel.
Sir Gareth also reflected on his unexpected role as a trend-setter during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when his wearing of a smart waistcoat led to a spike in sales. He recalled asking his son if he could get away with just the waistcoat, and later noted that British Airways were handing out waistcoats on flights to Moscow.
Discussing team management, Sir Gareth emphasised the importance of getting players to buy into the pride of playing for England, and highlighted senior players like Harry Kane as good role models. He also spoke about his coaching philosophy, saying he wanted to help people improve and be the best version of themselves.
