EUROS 2024: Ex-England stars Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand say time is up for manager Gareth Southgate after 2-1 loss to Spain

Former England captain Alan Shearer feels the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain will probably be Gareth Southgate’s last match as manager.

Nico Williams had broken the deadlock early in the second half, but substitute Cole Palmer equalised to give England hope.

However, Mikel Oyarzabal then hit a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

Speculation will now turn to the future of Southgate, who took England to the final of Euro 2020 three years ago but suffered a similar fate against Italy.

The 53-year-old is out of contract at the end of the year, and despite insisting he will take time to consider his position, Shearer believes Southgate’s time is up.

“I suspect he might say ‘over to someone else’. I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game,” said former Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle striker Shearer, who was part of the England squad with Southgate which reached the semi-finals at Euro 96.

“There will be great disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more attacking football, but they have got to the final - but when you are here, you have got to get over the line.

“The reality is he got us to a final three years ago (at Euro 2020) and got us to a final here, and hasn’t won. That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else.”

Southgate responded by saying “now is not the time” to decide his future.

Despite their run to the showpiece match, Southgate has faced criticism through the tournament and his future is sure to come under scrutiny.

“I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that,” he said on ITV.

“I’m going to talk to the right people and, yeah, it’s just not for now.

“I think England are in a really good position in terms of the experiences they’ve got now, the age of the squad.

“Most of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well.

“There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment that’s not any consolation.”

England were outplayed by Spain, who won every game in the tournament.

“We have competed until the very end of the final,” Southgate added on BBC One.

“Today we didn’t keep possession of the ball quite well enough, especially when we had defended well.

“When they press you really well, you have got to get out of that pressure and we were not able to do that.

“In the end, that meant they had more control of the game and that can wear you down a bit.

“That said, we were still right in there when we got the equaliser, the game was still wide open, and we had a big chance at the end.

“As always in these games, it is fine margins, but I think they were the better team.”

Former England striker Gary Lineker - who reached the semis of the 1990 World Cup - also believes the demands of what is often labelled “the impossible job” will have taken their toll on Southgate.

“I suspect Gareth Southgate may have had enough,” Lineker said on BBC One.

“It is a tough, gruelling job.”

Skipper Harry Kane, whose wait for a first career trophy goes on, was replaced on the hour to cap a disappointing tournament - even though he shares the Golden Boot on three goals.

Southgate admitted the Bayern Munich striker “has not quite reached the level we all would have hoped for” throughout the tournament.

“Physically it has been tough for him,” Southgate said.

“He came into the tournament short on games ... The games are hugely demanding and we thought Ollie’s (Watkins) freshness would allow us to press better and offer a press in behind.

“I thought the substitutes came on and did what we asked them to do.”

Rio Ferdinand - part of England’s so-called “Golden Generation” who also came up short at the World Cup and European Championships - felt Southgate should have got more out of this squad.

“You have to look at what talent pool we have and I don’t feel like we are putting them in the best position possible,” the former Leeds and Manchester United centre-half said.

“I think the manger has to take some stick for that. The FA have got a big decision to make.”

“When the game was in the balance, we were always a team held back on a leash. That is the disappointing thing with the quality players we have in this squad.”

Former England defender Matt Upson felt Southgate’s side lacked an identity.

“It has not been an easy follow with England,” Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It has been difficult as there has not been the clear style or plan.

“Gareth has made a lot of good calls, but when you compare it to the team in red (Spain) and how they go about attacking this tournament and taking it apart - it is night and day.”