Soccer-Southgate's England legacy burnished by knockout turnaround

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - England Press Conference - Blankenhain, Germany - July 12, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate speaks to the media REUTERS/Lee Smith

BERLIN (Reuters) - Sunday's Euro 2024 final is likely to be Gareth Southgate's last match as England manager and he can walk away with his legacy "saved by the Bell", polished by penalties and enhanced by some semi-final excellence, regardless of what happens against Spain.

Everyone is again singing his praises as England prepare for a second successive European Championship final but such are the fine margins in elite sport that Southgate was a minute away from a horribly ignominious end to his eight-year tenure.