Watch Switzerland vs England live on Sky Sports Football from 1.30pm on Sunday; Kick-off is 2pm
Saturday 8 June 2019 23:38, UK
Gareth Southgate insists he is fully committed to England and says there is "no way" he would return to club management right now.
Southgate is also confident assistant Steve Holland remains similarly committed to the England cause amid talk of a move to replace Maurizio Sarri at former club Chelsea.
A year on from bowing out of the World Cup in an extra-time semi-final loss to Croatia, England are again nursing their wounds after Holland inflicted a 3-1 defeat in the final four of the inaugural Nations League in Portugal.
Southgate was quick to focus on his side's progress and the attempts to win Euro 2020 on home soil next summer.
"The only thing on my mind is that we've got a European Championship next summer and we've got to keep improving this team to be the best possible team we can be for the country," the former Middlesbrough boss, contracted until the
2022 World Cup, said.
"We brought 20,000 fans here [to Portugal] which is remarkable, a sign of their engagement back with the team and belief in what we're trying to do.
"And so why would I rush to leave that opportunity and chance to affect not just the football but the other parts that the role brings? It's not something that I think you even think about.
"Next summer? Then maybe that's out of my hands, depending on how the tournament goes, because we've already had two semi-finals and if we don't make the semi-final...and if we do... so these things will unfold.
"But my sole focus is producing the best team possible for England."
Asked if he would be interested in the Chelsea job if, as expected, Sarri departed, Southgate said: "No. I'm committed to England, simple as that.
"I don't need to hedge my bets in keeping doors open or keeping things alive. There's no way that I would leave England at this moment in time, to take any job."
Southgate is a 50-1 outsider with bookmakers to take the Stamford Bridge post, but his assistant is available as short as 9-1 amid reports he is being considered for the role.
Holland's only previous experience as manager was at Crewe, but he flourished during eight trophy-laden years at Chelsea as he went from reserve team manager to assistant first-team coach - a role he left at the end of the 2016-17 campaign to work with England full-time.
Southgate says Holland is the "best assistant in the country" and believes he deserves to be attracting admiring glances, but he is sure his right-hand man would tell him about any approach.
"He is hugely important to everything we do," Southgate said.
"For me he is hugely important in terms of his experience, his knowledge, the way he delivers the coaching as well.
"But I am sure at some point in the future he is going to want to be a manager and take that opportunity.
"I don't believe that would be now, because he is very committed to the work we are doing, looking forward to next summer and hopefully this team will develop."
