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The Three Lions coach's legacy is secure after turning the team's fortunes around dramatically since 2016, but his days in the hot seat feel numbered

While Gareth Southgate and England will have their attention fixed on Euro 2024 having secured their place in Germany, a great abyss lies beyond the summer amid uncertainty over the manager's future. After a testing few months on and off the pitch, cracks have finally begun to show in Southgate's perpetually composed demeanour.

Despite everything he has done for the national team and its standing on the world stage over the last eight years, his selection decisions, performances and, indeed, words have arguably never been under more scrutiny.

With a golden opportunity to end England's agonising wait for silverware on the horizon, and a momentous decision facing him beyond that, it feels as though we are already witnessing Southgate's final days as England manager.

Getty'Not where we want to be'

Southgate should predominantly be judged on qualification for major tournaments and England's performances at those showpieces, with lulls in the months in between perhaps par for the course. However, inconsistent and disjointed displays since the 2023-24 season began are cause for concern with so few games between now and Euro 2024. Their form was even worse going into the 2022 World Cup, courtesy of a forgettable Nations League campaign, and that was arguably reflected in an overall underperformance as they bowed out in the quarter-finals.

Since September, the Three Lions have been held to draws by Ukraine and North Macedonia on the road, and only managed unconvincing victories over Australia and Malta at Wembley. Southgate has a knack for getting the best out of his team when the cards are down, but it's evident that something is amiss.

Speaking after edging Malta recently, the manager rather alarmingly admitted: "We know the level we've got should be better, can be better. Those games that you know you can win at a canter, the number of games these players are playing, it's almost a self-regulation. There are positives, but we know we were not where we want to be and can be."

AdvertisementGettyQuestionable selections

Despite the relative success he has delivered and his usually inoffensive, calm demeanour, Southgate has become a polarising figure for England fans – not least because of his squad and team selections.

While there has always been light-hearted debate over who should start on the wing or at right-back, the manager has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for inexplicably continuing to call upon Jordan Henderson, despite his money-motivated move to the inferior Saudi Pro League at the age of 33 and the political connotations that go with that decision.

There have been some glaring inconsistencies, too, with blind loyalty shown to those who are out of form or out of favour at club level, such as Kalvin Phillips, Marcus Rashford and, previously, Harry Maguire, while in-form Raheem Sterling has been consistently overlooked despite having been one of Southgate's most trusted lieutenants.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

Southgate's vehement defence of Henderson's continued involvement was particularly telling. This is a manager who is revered as someone who, alongside his players, has united the country – taking a stand against racism and discrimination while promoting progressive politics. Indeed, his open letter ahead of Euro 2020, 'Dear England', has even been adapted into a West End stage production.

A self-proclaimed LGBTQ+ ally, Henderson's lucrative move to Saudi Arabia – where homosexuality is punishable by death – belies those supposed values, and Southgate is now complicit in that. However, to date his response and defence of both himself and Henderson has been tone deaf and disappointing, with his exasperated tone suggesting that media scrutiny might be getting to him.

In a fraught press conference in September, he said: "My job is to pick a football team. I don’t think you can pick a football team based on any prejudice about where they might be playing their football. I am a bit lost with some of the questioning. You walk in to talk about a squad for football and we are wading into complex political situations, which I am not really trained to do."

He then doubled down when Henderson was booed during the friendly with Australia at Wembley, saying: "I really don’t understand it. He’s a brilliant role model for all of the group in his professionalism and his approach. Some people deciding to boo I really don’t understand what that is for. Come on.

"I don’t really know where we are heading with everything. I’m hugely impressed with the impeccable values and decisions that everyone in our country is making now. I know what’s created it and it’s happened but it defies logic to me that you would give a player – who is putting his heart and soul into playing for England – why you would boo him? Is that going to help him or the team? I don’t understand it.”

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Getty ImagesAn underwhelming World Cup

Southgate has built an unlikely reputation as an adept tournament manager since taking the reins from Sam Allardyce in 2016, memorably guiding England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the Euro 2020 final in consecutive major tournaments, although they came up agonisingly short on both occasions.

Expectation, then, was heightened when last year's World Cup rolled around, with the hope that England could finally go one step further. However, although they swiftly clicked into gear and cruised into the quarter-finals, their hopes were brought to an abrupt end by France as Harry Kane missed that crucial penalty.

There is no doubting the quality in the French squad, but a quarter-final exit was quite literally a step backwards for Southgate's England given what had come before, resulting in the nagging sense that a golden opportunity had been passed up by an exceptional set of players. Indeed, with the tools he has at his disposal, Southgate arguably should have delivered some form of silverware, with the Nations League also eluding him.

As part of the NxGn series, Goal takes a look at the most promising young players waiting in the wings at the Santiago Bernabeu

GettyVinicius JuniorThe Brazilian teenager signed for Real Madrid last year, but will not join Los Blancos until the end of the 2018-19 season, because he needs to be 18 for an international transfer to be completed. The young Flamengo forward scored seven times as Brazil won the U-17 South American Championship last year and he was named as the tournament's best player. Real Madrid have high hopes for him.AdvertisementGettyMoha

Mohamed Airam Ramos Wade, better known as Moha, is a goalkeeper with a bright future at Real Madrid. The Tenerife-born shot-stopper, who will be 18 next month, has already been training with the first team following the injury to Luca Zidane and the coaching staff are very impressed. Moha saved three penalties in the Youth League against Krasnodar in a shootout in February. He is tall (1.90m), agile and has impressive reflexes. Definitely an option for the future at Real.

GettyCesar GelabertSon of a former Sevilla and Sporting Gijon player, Juanmi Gelabert, Cesar is one of the most promising teenagers at Real Madrid. The 17-year-old can play as a central midfielder, a winger, a support striker or as a false nine. He has excellent technical ability and an eye for a final ball, as well as a good goalscoring record. He is currently playing for the Juvenil A side under former Madrid midfielder Guti and that experience should further aid his development.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyMiguel BaezaAnother midfielder playing under Guti in Real Madrid's Juvenil A side, Miguel Baeza is a player known for his tactical awareness. Elegant on the ball and with a good understanding of the game, the youngster (who has just turned 18) can play centrally or on the wing and also boasts a powerful left foot.

Though the majority of the team's biggest stars have been given the tournament off, the Stars and Stripes will still be among the favourites

We're just days removed from the United States men's national team's Nations League triumph and two dominant wins over Mexico and Canada. Several USMNT stars will likely still be washing away the champagne smell and, yet, here we are, looking ahead to the next summer tournament.

Just six days after finishing off the Nations League in Las Vegas, the U.S. will kickstart the Gold Cup in Chicago. There's no rest during a CONCACAF summer, that's for sure. Still, the USMNT set to compete in this second summer tournament will be very different than the one that won the first. Gone are the likes of Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie, as this roster has just five holdovers from the Nations League team.

In place of the established stars, interim coach B.J. Callaghan is taking charge of a squad filled with young upstarts and veterans looking for one last push. From two-time World Cup veteran DeAndre Yedlin to teenagers like Cade Cowell, there's an interesting mix.

That mix, though, still could be good enough to win the Gold Cup, but it will be a challenge, much as it was in 2021 when the U.S. pulled off their first CONCACAF double. Doing so again will require several players to take leaps forward, although there are plenty capable of using this tournament as a springboard to bigger and better things.

With that said, here's a look at what to watch out for with the USMNT at the Gold Cup:

GettyTurner (and Slonina) in goal

The goalkeeper position is perhaps the most interesting one on the field for the U.S., as the goalkeeper of the present and the goalkeeper of the future have both been named to the squad.

Matt Turner is sticking with the team after the Nations League triumph, and he likely isn't sticking around to sit on the bench. He is the USMNT's No.1, after all, and all signs point to him being starter for the meaningful games in this tournament.

Still, it will be interesting to see if Gabriel Slonina gets any minutes, as the Chelsea youngster is also in the team after shining at the Under-20 World Cup. Slonina is widely seen as a superstar in the making and, after making his USMNT debut in January, it seems to be a matter of when, not if, he gets his crack at the No.1 spot.

This summer may be a bit too soon for him, but it'll be a good experience, at least, learning under Turner and Sean Johnson, two World Cup veterans.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRobinson's return to form

With the full team, Miles Robinson very well could be the go-too starter. He was phenomenal against Mexico in the Nations League and, like Turner, is one of the holdovers from that squad.

A devastating Achilles injury kept him out of the World Cup last fall, but Robinson is looking back to his old self. Still, getting reps in the Gold Cup will be good for him, especially as he continues to draw European interest.

How many games can Robinson go? It remains to be seen. So far, the USMNT has taken it easy with him by limiting his minutes somewhat. We know that Robinson will play quality minutes at the Gold Cup, but the quantity is the mystery, especially considering the other veteran center-backs in the team.

Look out for Jalen Neal, too, who could make an impact despite being one of the younger members of the squad.

GettyYoung full-backs making a push

Of the full-backs in the squad just one, DeAndre Yedlin, has significant USMNT experience. John Tolkin, Bryan Reynolds and DeJuan Jones, meanwhile, are all players that are looking to make a rise up the depth chart, with all having the ability to play a key role this cycle.

Tolkin is the youngest of the bunch, and it could be argued he has the highest ceiling. A standout in MLS with the New York Red Bulls, Tolkin is seen as a future European transfer, with many outside of North America already taking notice of his abilities.

Reynolds, meanwhile, has three caps to his name and is back with the USMNT after having a difficult time with his own European adventure. His time with Roma has been a mess, but a loan to Westerlo in Belgium helped him regain some much-needed confidence ahead of the Gold Cup.

And then there's Jones, the New England Revolution star. He's the oldest of this trio at 25, but he's looked solid in his two USMNT caps thus far. He'll battle with Tolkin for a spot on the left, while Reynolds and Yedlin will duke it out on the right-hand side.

Left-back, in particular, is a position of interest for the USMNT, who have been looking for a back-up to Antonee Robinson for some time. Could it be Tolkin or Jones? We'll find out this summer.

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Getty ImagesWhat's up with Aidan Morris?

One of the more interesting inclusions and another dual-national battle the U.S. has won. Morris has drawn interest from Canada, and could be a key player for them. He, ultimately, opted for the U.S., though, saying: "I think my heart felt more comfortable and more shaped towards the U.S. than Canada. That’s no disrespect towards Canada, it’s just where I’ve grown up and something I’ve been working towards my whole life."

That's good news for the USMNT, as the 21-year-old midfielder has been playing well in MLS. He's the youngest player in league history to start an MLS Cup, having helped lift the Columbus Crew to the 2020 title, and he's only grown as a midfielder since then. A defensive-minded option, Morris could be an answer at the senior level, where there isn't really a backup in Tyler Adams' mold.

This is a good tryout for him to prove he can be that guy, and perhaps more, in the years to come.

Real Madrid have reportedly “laughed at” Paris Saint-Germain’s €250 million (£213m/$272m) demands in any transfer for Kylian Mbappe.

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French forward yet to sign new dealDue to become a free agent in 2024Blancos heavily linked for some timeWHAT HAPPENED?

The World Cup-winning forward has been welcomed back into the fold at Parc des Princes at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, but he is yet to agree an extension to a contract that is due to expire next summer. As a result, intense speculation continues to rage regarding the 24-year-old’s future plans.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

PSG are still hoping to agree fresh terms, with exit triggers set to be inserted into new one or two-year agreements. They are eager to include a €250m release clause in any deal, with the Ligue 1 champions looking to generate a world-record fee from any sale.

AND WHAT'S MORE

reports that said figures have been laughed out of Santiago Bernabeu, with Real having no intention of parting with such a fee. Instead, the Blancos have made it clear that they will only go as high as €175m (£149m/$190m) in any deal – which includes bonuses – with their opening offer expected to be closer to the €130m (£111m/$141m) mark.

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Goal / GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Real are also eager to make it clear to Mbappe and his representatives that they are prepared to walk away entirely, dropping all interest in a long-standing target, if no deal is done in the current window or the summer of 2024.

The 2017-18 FIFA Ultimate Team of the Season has been revealed, with all this year's biggest and best performers getting huge ratings boosts

EA SportsSergio Aguero – Man City89 > 97AdvertisementEA SportsDele Alli – Spurs84 > 92EA SportsCesar Azpilicueta – Chelsea86 > 92ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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EA SportsDavid Silva – Man City89 > 95

Harry Kane has lifted the lid slightly on his private life, with the Bayern Munich striker revealing what he likes to get up to away from the pitch.

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England captain now in GermanyHas always been a model professionalFamily comes first for prolific frontmanWHAT HAPPENED?

The England captain has never been one to chase the limelight, with the humble 30-year-old frontman happy to let his football do the talking. That has continued to be the case in 2023-24, with Kane rewriting the history books while netting 22 goals through 18 appearances for Bayern – with three hat-tricks recorded along the way.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT KANE SAID

Kane has now told of how he spends his time off the field, with there never any desire on his part to enjoy wild nights out. He has said: “I like to keep things private and I think that’s all down to the type of person I am. I’m a pretty normal guy and do normal things. I’ve never been someone who goes out to nightclubs. When I have spare time, I like to spend it with my wife and kids, I like to play some golf. Unfortunately, there are some things that are a bit more difficult to do when you are going to a busy place and people recognise you. In general, I’m just a pretty normal guy.

“People have different personalities and take different paths in their life. You can’t say one is right and one is wrong, but this is just the way I have always been. I don’t tend to give too much of my personal life away and like to keep my children away from the spotlight as there is so much out there on social media and you have to be careful. That is all part of learning to be a dad, being a parent. You need to protect your kids from seeing things you don’t want them to see. There are advantages to the internet and social media, but you don’t want to expose your kids to too much too young.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Kane is yet to be joined in Germany by his young family, with a house hunt in Bavaria having dragged on, but they will soon be reunited and the expectation is that stability off the pitch will help the record-breaking forward to take his game to even greater heights.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Kane is already the all-time leading goalscorer for Tottenham and England, but a €100 million (£86m/$109m) transfer to Bayern was completed in a bid to get his hands on elusive major silverware – with the Bundesliga title holders in the hunt for another domestic crown and continental glory in the Champions League.

Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Rahul Dravid and Martin Crowe have urged the ICC to regulate the depth of the bat, and not just keep it to the existing size but pull it back

Sidharth Monga31-Mar-20155:16

Chappell: Field restrictions should make captaincy imaginative

Restoring the balance between bat and ball, including regulating bat thickness, easing fielding restrictions and reverting to one white ball per innings, was the way ahead for the one-day game, according to a panel of ESPNcricinfo’s experts. The experts – Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Rahul Dravid and Martin Crowe – felt these would encourage imaginative captaincy and more aggressive cricket.They were participating in , an ESPNcricinfo discussion on the future of the ODI game, in Sydney after the second World Cup semi-final.The most important issue, they felt, was for the ICC to regulate the depth of the bat, and not just keep it to the existing size but pull it back. As the regulations stand, a bat’s width cannot exceed 10.8cm, but there is no bar on the thickness of the bat. The width of the bat for the purpose of the regulations is the width of the edge or the side face, and not the thickness of the middle of the bat.”I don’t know if the ICC is afraid of the people who manufacture the bat to say exactly what has to go into a bat,” Holding said. “They have limited the width of the bat, but they have never limited the depth. There used to be a sweet spot on the bat years ago. Actually one company – I don’t want to name it – used to have a spot on the back of the bat, which was pretty much parallel to the one on the front of the bat. Now that would have to cover the entire bat because there is no sweet spot, there is a sweet bat.”Once you get a piece of bat on the ball, it disappears. You can see it on the television. There are a lot of slow-motion replays where you see a batsman hitting the ball, you can see the bat actually twisting in their hands. Obviously not hitting the ball well, and the ball disappears nonetheless. That is one aspect that has to be looked into. If the ICC do nothing else, they have to look at that.”When people used to hit sixes at the MCG, you used to think they were Superman or Samson. Now a No. 11 can hit a six at the MCG because of the bats they are using. You have to look at that.”Chappell said the unfair domination of batsmen was only one of the problems that the thick bats have brought to the game. “Sooner or later, a bowler or an umpire is going to getting seriously hurt,” Chappell said. “Because the ball is getting back so quickly they have got no time to react. They have got a similar problem in baseball, another game that I follow. It has got to a point where last season they were offering pitchers padded caps. Because guys were getting hit in the head more regularly. Because the ball was getting back to the other end so quickly. Even if we don’t believe that the balance is out of whack because of the depth of the bat – and if they don’t believe that they are out of whack – there is this danger aspect and they have got to seriously look into that.”Apart from leading to an unfair domination by batsmen, thicker bats also present a safety challenge, for the crowds and on-field officials•AFPCrowe brought up the issue of the safety of the crowds. An unattended kid was hit by a David Warner six in Perth, but it was a surprise none of the other 460 sixes hurt anyone in the stands. Dravid, though, worried about the safety of the lesser-appreciated net bowlers. “One of the people who I really worry for is net bowlers,” he said. “I have worked in the IPL. We have young kids who bowl in the nets. All university kids, college kids. All 17-, 18-, 19-year-olds bowling in the nets, and you have the likes of Shane Watson and Chris Gayle batting in the nets and practising T20 batting. I am amazed no one has seriously got hurt.”Two of the big talking points of this World Cup have been the field restrictions that allow only four fielders outside the circle in non-Powerplay overs and the two new balls. Both have resulted in higher scores. Chappell wanted most of the restrictions removed thus allowing the captains to captain the sides and not the regulations. There was also an agreement that bowlers be allowed to more than 10 overs with a restriction on a certain number of overs to be bowled by five bowlers so that teams don’t stack their teams up with eight batsmen and just three bowlers.”As far as restrictions are concerned, I like as few as possible,” Chappell said. “I’d like to something as simple as a regulation that stops a cluttering of the boundaries at any stage of the innings. The rest of it I’d like to leave it to the imagination of the captains. You might say they are all going to go defensive, but I don’t think they will. You are going to have captains like Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum who will attack. What I think would happen is that the negative ones will be shown up because they would probably lose more often. Ones with more imagination would win more often. What you generally find in sport is that if some team is winning a lot, people tend to follow their example. That’s the first thing with field restrictions.”As far as the overs are concerned I’d like something as simple as: ‘Five bowlers have got to bowl 25 overs and the rest of them the captain makes up however he wants.’ If he has got someone bowling well, he can bowl 14, 15, whatever he can fit in. The reason I say that is, you would hope if you have got better bowlers he will attack. Whereas if he has got lesser bowlers and he is having to bowl them for 10 overs then he is more likely to be defending. It will encourage more imaginative captaincy if you allow the better bowlers to bowl more overs. It’s also a captain’s gut feel, who is bowling well today.”If I was a current captain, I’d say to the ICC, ‘If you want to captain this bloody team, you come and captain it. Allow me to captain. Don’t try to captain with your bloody regulations.'”Dravid and Holding agreed that the new fielding restrictions did part of their job successfully by forcing the captains to pick five specialist bowlers and eliminate the part-timer, but they worried about the consequent domination of the bat. “I can understand what Rahul is saying, that now teams have to pick better bowlers, better bowlers now get more opportunities,” Holding said, “but at the same time, a lot of teams, especially the Associate teams, are not going to be able to find those five good bowlers to be competitive.”The panel could see why two balls were being used but agreed that it took reverse swing out of the game, and that on flat pitches they only helped the batsmen. “It [this World Cup] has clearly shown that on flat good wickets and especially in the subcontinent the two new balls and fielding restrictions are not working because the scores are just going out of hand,” Dravid said.”The white ball behaves a little bit differently to the red ball,” Holding said. “If the manufacturers can get the white ball to behave similarly to the red ball, you would have to look at two new balls as well. If you had two red balls, because years ago, if you had two red balls, bowlers would have dominated. With two white balls the bowlers have no chance of dominating because the balls don’t do enough.”

Bucs will be determined to return to winning ways when they face the Libyan side in the semi-final first-leg clash on Sunday

The Buccaneers are expected to be without Olisa Ndah, Thabang Monare and Paseka Mako who are all both nursing injuries.

On the other hand, Nkanyiso Zungu remains suspended by the Soweto giants for an off the field issue.  

While Vincent Pule could return to the matchday squad after recovering from a long term injury.

GOAL picks Pirates' possible starting line-up ahead of their clash with Al Ahli at Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.

BackpagepixGOALKEEPER – Richard Ofori

The bulky shot-stopper will be keen to continue his good form in the Confederation Cup when he faces the 12-time Libyan champions.

Ofori has kept four clean sheets in five matches in Africa's secondary club tournament this term.

AdvertisementBackpagepixRIGHT-BACK – Bandile Shandu

The man nicknamed Busy Weekend will be returning to Martyrs of February Stadium where he scored twice against Al Ittihad last month.

Busy Weekend will be hoping to rediscover his scoring touch having failed to find the back of the net in his last 10 competitive games.

BackpagepixLEFT-BACK – Innocent Maela

The experienced left-back is set to make his second start in this season's Confederation Cup.

Maela, who is enjoying regular game time with Mako out injured, grabbed an assist during Bucs' last game in this competition which was against Tanzania's Simba SC on April  24.

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BackpagepixCENTRAL DEFENDER – Happy Jele

The Pirates captain looked shaky against TS Galaxy on Monday as Bucs lost 1-0 in a PSL match and he was substituted at half-time.

Jele was substituted due to a tactical move by the Pirates technical team and he is expected to start once again with Ndah out injured.

Liverpool will face LASK and Union SG in the group stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, while West Ham are set to take on Olympiacos and Freiburg.

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Reds reached the final in 2016Gers fell narrowly short in 2022Hammers won UECL last seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Elsewhere, Brighton’s first experience of continental competition has seen them drawn against Ajax and Marseille, with Scottish giants Rangers – who failed to progress through the Champions League qualifiers – due to come up against Real Betis and Sparta Prague.

AdvertisementEUROPA LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW IN FULL

Group A

West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Backa Topola

Group B

Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens

Group C

Rangers, Real Betis, Sparta Prague, Aris Limassol

Group D

Atalanta, Sporting, Sturm, Rakow

Group E

Liverpool, LASK, Union SG, Toulouse

Group F

Villarreal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos

Group G

Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff, Servette

Group H

Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, Hacken

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Liverpool last played in the Europa League back in 2015-16, when they made it all the way to the final before coming unstuck against tournament specialists Sevilla. West Ham reached the semi-finals back in 2022, before going one better in the Europa Conference League last season as they claimed a prestigious trophy. Rangers have also graced a final in recent times, with the Glasgow heavyweights suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The first round of group stage fixtures will take place on September 21, with a further five matchdays playing out from that point – taking things through to December 14. Every team involved in the competition is hoping to steer a course to Dublin on May 22, 2024 – when major silverware will come up for grabs at the Aviva Stadium.

New USWNT boss Emma Hayes delayed start with the U.S. poses an issue, per sporting director Matt Crocker, but the USSF is happy to wait for her.

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Emma Hayes delayed start presents issues for U.S. SoccerUSSF 'hopeful' Hayes can travel to meet squad

USWNT host China PR on December 2

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a press conference on Monday, Crocker said that despite the complications with the current situation regarding Hayes' status with the USWNT, he's 'hopeful' that the new boss will be able to visit the squad in Florida next week. The U.S. has a pair of December international friendlies against China PR to end the calendar year.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hayes is a picture-perfect hire for the USWNT, and the way they negotiated her contract, she will still end on good terms with her beloved Chelsea; it's an ideal scenario. The 47-year-old manager will still be on the touchline for at least four games prior to her first major tournament with the national team in the Paris Olympics, too. However, the one negative is that for any matches played in 2024 from January until the end of the WSL season, Hayes won't be on the bench with her squad.

WHAT CROCKER SAID

"It's not ideal Emma can’t start with us right away. But from my perspective, what was important is that we’ve got the best candidate for the long term rather than wrong candidate for short term," he said.

The USSF Sporting Director added: "We're just again working to final details around her schedule… it would be an ideal situation for her to come and meet the players and staff and we're very hopeful that that can happen."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HAYES AND THE USWNT?

The current Chelsea boss will continue out the WSL season with the Blues before joining up with the USWNT on a permanent basis in 2024. They're back in action on Thursday in the UEFA Women's Champions League against Paris FC. The U.S. meanwhile, announced the November camp roster Monday morning ahead of a pair of December friendlies against China PR.