England crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 2-1 defeat to defending champions France on Saturday.

England dominated the game against France for long periods and should have taken the contest to extra-time only for Harry Kane to miss a penalty.

England manager Gareth Southgate has a contract that runs to the summer of 2024 but insists he will make a decision on his future as England boss in the coming weeks.

Southgate said: “We showed character. They (the players) showed the balls to go toe-to-toe with a big team. They kept the ball, they were brave in the way we tried to defend. Of course we were not perfect and there were mistakes at both ends that decided the outcome of the game.

“I think we have shown the rest of the world the state of English football is healthy. We’ve got some very good players. Not only for now but for the future as well. However you go out of a tournament, it is always really, really difficult. I can only say the pride I have in the players.

“The way the whole group have gone about things, has been exceptional.”

Asked specifically about what this elimination means for his own job, Southgate replied: “Whenever I’ve finished these tournaments I’ve needed time to make correct decisions because emotionally you go through so many different feelings. The energy it takes through these tournaments is enormous.

“I want to make the right decision, whenever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA and I’ve got to be sure whatever the decision I take is the right one and I think it’s right to take time to do that because I know in the past how my feelings have fluctuated immediately after tournaments.”