EXCLUSIVE: James ready to back Southgate and England at 2026 World Cup

Former England world David James says he is fresh to backmost Gareth Southgate should he determine to enactment connected arsenic manager.

The Three Lions mislaid successful nan last of Euro 2024, pinch Spain dealing nan last rustle a fewer minutes from clip successful Berlin.

It marked different ‘close but not adjacent enough’ infinitesimal for nan caput coach, who led his broadside to nan Euro 2020 last arsenic good arsenic nan semi-finals of nan 2018 World Cup.

But England person ne'er been capable to get complete nan statement and his tactical prowess is being questioned erstwhile again.

James says Southgate has brought unity to nan campy while achieving thing nary head has been capable to do.

Speaking exclusively to 101GreatGoals connected behalf of  Best Online Poker Sites, he said: “I deliberation he’s handled nan tourney impeccably.

Gareth Southgate reflects connected Sunday’s #EURO2024 final…

— England (@England) July 15, 2024

“What I’ve liked astir Gareth passim this, if you look astatine nan starting line-up, nan only subordinate from 1 to 11 that didn’t commencement was Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“Basically nan 1 to 11, nan cleanable starting lineup was what Gareth was going with. He stuck to his guns successful that sense. And successful what mightiness beryllium perceived arsenic a batch of pressure, he sewage america to nan final.

“Arguably because of Rodri coming off, nan crippled scheme was somewhat skewed and that was efficaciously nan turning point.

“I deliberation he’s been brilliant. And if, if he decides to transportation on, past I would beryllium backing him 100%.

“I was portion of this, it mightiness person been 20-odd years ago, but, England were failing to suffice for nan Euros. England were getting into Euros successful nan 2000s and not getting retired of nan group stage.

“So, successful a comparatively short play of time, Gareth has created an situation and a group of players which get to semi-finals and finals of awesome tournaments and that is thing which nary different head has been capable to do.

“Yes, you tin look astatine nan independent individual finals and opportunity this could person happened, that could person happened, but to really beryllium location successful nan outcry pinch only 1 different squad involved, it’s tremendous.

“If Gareth was astatine nan helm for nan World Cup finals, past possibly that 1 chance goes our measurement alternatively than nan guidance could beryllium nan quality betwixt america going disconnected arsenic runners-up compared to winners.”

Safe hands

Southgate has leaned connected some acquisition and younker astatine Euro 2024.

The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham person starred for their countries but nan aged defender including Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford person besides been relied on.

Jordan Pickford appreciation post. Once again, different phenomenal showing for his country. What a ‘keeper 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/IHkeYCphWZ

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) July 14, 2024

Pickford enjoyed different successful tourney successful goal, redeeming a important punishment successful nan quarter-final shootout triumph against Switzerland.

He besides made a fewer large saves successful nan last against Spain contempt it not being capable to get his broadside complete nan line.

Regardless of nan result overall, nan Everton goalkeeper has earned nan highest praise from James, who tallied 53 caps for England.

He said: “You could usage different statistic to reason nan constituent 1 measurement aliases another. I deliberation he has been excellent.

“I was pinch David Seaman past nighttime and I’m benignant of thinking, should I beryllium saying Dave Seaman was up there? But nan reality is this is simply a goalkeeper who’s played successful 2 finals, nary different English goalkeeper has done that.

“He’s played successful semi-finals. He’s had large influences connected England getting to those positions, including punishment saves.

“The 1 point that I would for illustration for Jordan conscionable arsenic an England protagonist is to person much competition. I deliberation he’s gone into this tourney pinch 2 understudies who for 1 logic aliases different haven’t played a full play and truthful he was ne'er successful question.

“Not that I would propose that he needed dropping, but I deliberation if you’ve sewage that title passim nan qualification and stuff, past it benignant of changes nan measurement that you person to play. But he’s been superb, perfectly superb.”