In the recent international window, the England national team has performed very poorly leading to the manager Gareth Southgate coming under scrutiny. England lies bottom of their group in the Nations League and even received a 4-0 humiliating hammering from Hungary. However, the FA have backed under-fire boss Southgate. The chairwoman, Debbie Hewitt has given the Three Lions boss a dreaded vote of confidence. This is what she had to say; "He's changed that beyond recognition and I've seen that for myself. I've worked in business and Gareth's skills, and his high IQ, would make him a chief executive in any sphere. That resilience and accountability. There's no sloped shoulders and that's what you want in an England manager." 

Last year, the manager received a contract extension up to 2024, a decision that attracted a lot of criticism over its timing. The chairperson, however, said that recent performances have not brought any cause for concern regarding his long-term suitability for the role. This is what Debbie Hewitt had to add; "Clearly we did that [offered a new deal] with proper discussion and thought. The fact there's been a stumble does not make us automatically say, 'Should we have given him a contract? We have confidence in Gareth for all the reasons I described and I think that's the important thing. It's particularly important going into the biggest tournament [the World Cup]. Gareth's reaction, as in everything with that sort of conversation, was that it is his accountability, that there's always something to learn. That's why it's refreshing working with somebody like that because that openness to learn is quite remarkable and quite unusual in any sphere." 

If England are to avoid an embarrassing Nations League relegation to League B, then they desperately need positive results from both their September visit to Italy and also their home encounter with Germany. But all eyes will be in the FIFA Qatar World Cup slated to take place between Monday, November 21st to Sunday, December 18th. England have been drawn in the same group as Iran, the United States of America, and Wales. They last won the global showpiece in the 1966 edition and the next time they have come close to football glory was when they finished as runers up behind Italy in the Euro 2020 following a final that was decided on penalty shootouts at the Wembley Stadium.