Southgate Leaving Role as England Boss after Euros Final Defeat

England's manager Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy at the end of the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
England's manager Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy at the end of the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Southgate Leaving Role as England Boss after Euros Final Defeat

England's manager Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy at the end of the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
England's manager Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy at the end of the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Gareth Southgate announced on Tuesday he is leaving his role as England manager after they lost to Spain in the European Championship final.
Southgate took charge in 2016 and oversaw 102 games, leading the team to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 as well as the Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.
England lost 2-1 to Spain in Sunday's showpiece and Southgate said after the game that he would discuss his future in charge of the national team.
"As a proud Englishman, it has been the honor of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all," Southgate said in a statement.
"But it's time for change and for a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
"I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways."
England have only won the World Cup in 1966 but Southgate transformed the side which became a force to reckon with in tournaments after he took charge in 2016.
They also reached the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup, a year after losing to Italy on penalties in the Euros final.



Thomas Mueller Ends Germany Career Following Euro 2024

FILED - 05 July 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: Germany's Thomas Mueller reacts after the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final soccer match between Spain and Germany at the MHPArena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 05 July 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: Germany's Thomas Mueller reacts after the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final soccer match between Spain and Germany at the MHPArena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
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Thomas Mueller Ends Germany Career Following Euro 2024

FILED - 05 July 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: Germany's Thomas Mueller reacts after the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final soccer match between Spain and Germany at the MHPArena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 05 July 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: Germany's Thomas Mueller reacts after the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final soccer match between Spain and Germany at the MHPArena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa

Germany striker Thomas Mueller said Monday he was retiring from international football after a disappointing Euro 2024 in which the host nation were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
"After 131 national team games and 45 goals, I am saying goodbye," Mueller said in a video statement announcing his decision, reported AFP.
Mueller, who turns 35 in September, was a key member of the German team that won the 2014 World Cup.
The charismatic forward also scored the opening goal in Germany's unforgettable 7-1 win over the hosts Brazil in the semi final.
"When I played my first international match for the German national team over 14 years ago, I could never have dreamed of all this," Mueller said in the video.
"It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes shed a tear together," he said.
A tearful Mueller had hinted at retirement following Germany's exit from Euro 2024.
The tournament hosts lost 2-1 in the quarter-final to Spain, who went on to lift the trophy on Sunday against England.
After the Spain game, Mueller said he would hold talks with national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and decide whether it was the "sensible option" to step aside in favor of younger players.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the only member of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning side still involved in the national team set up.
Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos announced before Euro 2024 that he would retire from football after the tournament.
Unlike Kroos, Mueller will continue to play for his club Bayern Munich, where he is under contract until 2025.
Only Lothar Matthaeus and Miroslav Klose have played more games for Germany than Mueller, who is also Germany's sixth highest goalscorer of all time.