Summary

  • Build-up to World Cup semi-finals as Morocco await France and Argentina meet Croatia

  • Argentina face Croatia on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT

  • More fallout from England's exit as Gareth Southgate remains 'conflicted' over his future

  • Get Involved - who are the standout players of the World Cup so far?

  • Tweet #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  • England lost 2-1 to France on Saturday

  1. get involved

    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    I am at a crossroads, I think Southgate has done a good job as England manager, turned us into proper side which people fear, so he deserves credit. But ultimately we have come up short again, did it in the euros & now this World Cup. Im torn, if he stays I'll be a little bit disappointed, because I feel we need to push on from this. But if he stays, I think he's earned it.

    George

  2. Stateside Southgate?published at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Gareth SouthgateImage source, Getty Images

    According to this report in the Mail, external, Gareth Southgate 'likes the USA' and would consider a move either to Major League Soccer or to take over the national team if he departs from the England job.

    Could you see this happening? Hit the thumbs.

  3. 'Will Southgate have the motivation to go again?'published at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    What about Gareth Southgate? This is the biggest post-World Cup question. As yet, there is not an answer.

    Southgate was understandably reticent to discuss his future with the loss to France still on his mind but one part of this equation is very clear. The Football Association would love Southgate to serve every minute of the contract he signed taking him through to December 2024.

    The dilemma for the manager who has the best record since England's 1966 World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey is whether he wants to carry on into a fourth tournament, take a break, or perhaps return to club management with his stock high.

    Southgate's England may have gone out a round earlier than in the 2018 World Cup but this squad is better and younger. Whoever is in charge will feel it has a genuine chance at Euro 2024.

    Has Southgate got the motivation to go again with England after another devastating defeat? Or will he feel his race is run? His answer will shape England's immediate and long-term future.

  4. More Southgate opinions...published at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Gareth SouthgateImage source, Getty Images

    Centre-back Harry Maguire said Southgate had been "amazing", while former England captain Alan Shearer said in his BBC Sport column that the manager should stay because he has "unfinished business".

    In their role as ITV pundits, ex-England internationals Gary Neville and Ian Wright, along with former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane, unanimously agreed they would like to see Southgate continue, while BBC pundits Martin Keown and Jermaine Jenas, also both former England players, said he "100%" should carry on.

    Rio Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube channel, said a previously "pitch-perfect" Southgate had "let us down" with his substitutions against France, but added that he should not leave the role because "this story hasn't had an ending yet".

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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    The positivity around the England team is great however the next step is for a winning mentality. Without casting any doubt over the success Gareth has brought, the question must be if he is able to achieve that next step? I’d argue ‘no’ however the next question is then who? I’d struggle to answer that if I’m honest. Sarina Wiegman perhaps?

    Nick

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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    sibur: Southgate should definitely stay. The team really respect him and they have bought in to his style. The worst thing they could do is replace him, it would take to another world cup to get where we are.

    gav: when asking if Southgate should stay; would you swap our world cup campaign for that of Italy, Spain or Gemany?

  7. 'A group that wants to play for each other'published at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Nedum Onuoha
    Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

    It feels like a really good group who want to play for each other. I have really enjoyed getting behind them and it has probably been the England team I have supported more than any other, they feel relatable. And it is still getting better.

    Gareth Southgate is such an interesting person and an interesting coach. He has been the most successful England manager in my lifetime but for some it's still not enough.

    I think some are seduced by club football and wanting to see their team dominate against everybody, whereas most teams that end up being successful on the world stage start off by being hard to beat and then they find a way to win.

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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    Jay: re: 10:10, how about the most important number - trophies won? 0.

  9. Anthony Taylor to stay on in Qatarpublished at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    Premier League referee Anthony Taylor is amongst 12 referees that have been retained by Fifa for the remainder of the World Cup.

    Taylor has taken charge of two group matches so far, the latest Croatia’s goalless draw with Belgium on 1 December.

    The Premier League’s other official at the event in Qatar, Michael Oliver, has not been kept on, even though he has been in control of three matches, including Brazil’s quarter-final exit.

    Also amongst the officials to be retained is Brazil’s Wilton Sampaio, who attracted huge criticism for his performance in England’s quarter-final defeat by France on Saturday.

  10. 'Southgate will do what is right for the team'published at 10:41 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Gareth Southgate's friend, and leading sports psychologist, Michael Caulfield, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live about the England manager's future:

    "It's what he always does. He thinks things through clearly. He doesn't make rash decisions. He will do what is right for the team. I am lucky enough to have known him for a long time and he always puts the team first.

    "He has done the job for six years and barely put a foot wrong. He will do what is right for the team and the country, not himself, that is how he operates.

    "I really don't know [if he will stay on]. He will take his time and listen to the right people. He will only do what is right for this group of players, it will not be about what he wants and he he won't want any personal glory. It's a quite exhausting job. At some point it takes its toll.

    "We've had great fun watching this team again, for the third tournament running. The players will feel as flat as can be but they will be back at work next week and preparing for Boxing Day fixtures."

    Marcus Rashford, Gareth Southgate, Jude BellinghamImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    The bigger picture with this young team should be WC 2026 so if GS cannot commit for 4yrs he should go now and not wait till after Euro 2024 leaving the new manager 2years to put his mark on team

    Sam

  12. 'You can't ask much more of Southgate'published at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    John Barnes
    Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    All you can ask any manager to do is maximise the potential of the team. Not withstanding the Nations League defeat by Hungary, but every tournament he's been to he's been to the semi-final, the final of the Euros and now a quarter-final and he has beaten everyone he should beat.

    So I think he has maximised the potential of the squad. With the young players they have this team will improve. I don't think you could have asked any more of Gareth, so it is up to him whether he wants to stay or he wants to go.

    I don't believe that England are the best team in the world. We are not the best team in the world, we are one of the best teams in the world and that means we should be getting to a quarter-final and, with a bit of luck, we could go through.

    Gareth SouthgateImage source, Getty Images
  13. 'More to come from England'published at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport in Doha

    England have gone home at the quarter-final stage but it seems there is still a lot of goodwill around the young team.

    Whether Gareth Southgate will still be in charge for the Euro 2024 qualifiers remains to be seen but former Germany striker and BBC Sport pundit Jurgen Klinsmann has spoken about the Three Lions this morning in Doha.

    “Overall a very positive presentation from the England side in the whole tournament," said Fifa technical study group member Klinsmann

    "The England-France game came too early, it should have been a semi-final or final, but one team has to go home and unfortunately it was England.

    "They played a really good tournament and a team in growth, it is able to get better over the next years. They are not on their limit age wise, they have talent coming through and have had three positive tournaments.

    "Even if it ended in the quarter-finals here and there is more to come from the English side in the coming years.”

  14. Southgate's reign in numbers...published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    • 19 & 11 - Gareth Southgate has both managed and won more games at major tournaments for England than any other manager.
    • 3 - Three of England’s four best tournaments (including the best two) in terms of goals scored have come under Southgate.
    • 22 - Between November 2020 and March 2022, England were unbeaten for 22 games - their longest ever run without defeat.
    • 10 - England beat San Marino 10-0 in November 2021, their biggest ever win in a competitive away game.
    • 2 - There are just two occasions of an England side scoring as many as five goals in a World Cup match - both have been under Southgate (6-1 v Panama, 6-2 v Iran).
    England's players celebrate against IranImage source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    Should Gareth Southgate stay? In short. Yes, absolutely. He's galvanised and instilled confidence in an under-performing team. He's introduced, and trusted, youth. He's taken us through more knockout games in his tenure than anyone else ever managed. The players respect and follow him. He handles all situations with diplomacy and balanced opinions. The ONLY criticism might be his slow decision making during some games, but hindsight is a wonderful thing... I don't think there is anyone better to manage the team. Apart from maybe Pep, but that will never happen, right?

    Steve

  16. 'England have so much to be proud of'published at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Peter Schmeichel
    Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I'm not sure anything went wrong for England, they were up against the world champions.

    It could have gone either way. That's top level international football. You can't say anyone did anything wrong or that it's anyone's fault to lose to a team like France.

    In many ways I think Gareth Southgate reacted quite well to what happened and how the game was panning out. I was mystified as to why Didier Deschamps only made one substitution, so if the penalty had gone, it had gone to extra-time and England had won, I think Deschamps would be under massive pressure in France. That is international football at the highest level.

    When it comes to England, there is so much to be proud of.

    Jude Bellingham, what a superstar. Everyone talks about what he did on the pitch, but what I saw when Harry Kane missed the penalty, he, at 19 years of age ran straight up to the captain of England and comforted him. Nobody else did that. What a player.

    Jude Bellingham and Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    On a results basis - which is surely what counts - Southgate has probably been the best England manager since Sir Alf. So absolutely, he should stay.

    Stuart

  18. 'Fifa failing responsibilities', say human rights groupspublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Al-Thumama StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Human rights organisations have criticised Fifa for "still failing to fulfil its human rights responsibilities".

    An estimated 30,000 workers from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines built facilities for the World Cup finals - including new stadiums, hotels and roads - but Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FairSquare, and Equidem say Fifa is "refusing to commit to compensate migrant workers and their families for abuses" in delivering the World Cup.

    In February 2021, the Guardian said 6,500 workers had died in Qatar since it won its World Cup bid, using data supplied by embassies in Qatar. The Qatar government said the total was misleading.

    “Fifa’s egregious whitewashing of serious abuses against migrant workers in Qatar is both a global embarrassment and a sinister tactic to escape its human rights responsibility to compensate thousands of workers who faced abuse and the families of those who died to make this World Cup possible,” said Tirana Hassan, of Human Rights Watch.

    “Fifa continues to cash in on billions of dollars in revenue but refuses to offer a single cent for the families of migrant workers who died or those workers who were cheated out of their wages.”

  19. 'I think Southgate will stay'published at 09:46 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

    Chris Sutton
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think Gareth Southgate is still making progress. My instinct is Gareth will stay on. It is not the right time for him to step away from the job.

    Going into this World Cup, it was off the back of a poor Nations League campaign and there was a lot of negativity. It's disappointing to go out to France but there are ways to lose and I think England dominated the game.

    I think England showed against France that they are a very capable team and most sensible people think Gareth is still moving this team in the right direction. I hope the FA can convince him to stay.

    Gareth SouthgateImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - do you think Southgate should stay?published at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2022

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    Tom: In 2017, the English media were hoping for a quarter-final finishes. Southgate has changed the entire teams mentality and culture, including expectations; England fans should remember that.

    Mike: Gareth Southgate should definitely stay on. He has done a fantastic job and it would be a tragedy if he leaves at this point in time.