DOHA: England crashed out of the World Cup against an all too familiar backdrop of heroic failure and agonizing over yet another crucial missed penalty in a major championship.
But as the Three Lions packed their bags on Sunday there was much about the circumstances of their exit that felt like a break from the past.
No anguished wailing about tactical failings or technical ineptitude. No demands for a root-and-branch review of English football, and no calls for a change of manager.
Instead, a growing consensus that Gareth Southgate should 鈥� if he wants to 鈥� be allowed to continue for at least one more tournament.
The 52-year-old manager was roundly lambasted after his team鈥檚 two previous tournaments, blamed for an inability to tweak his gameplan mid-course during the 2018 World Cup semifinal loss to Croatia and last year鈥檚 European Championship final defeat to Italy at Wembley.
Yet as the desert dust settled on Saturday鈥檚 2-1 loss to France, few were accusing Southgate of tactical incompetence.
Southgate鈥檚 decision to go on the front foot against the world champions, opting for a 4-3-3 formation, came within a whisker of paying off. 
鈥淲e wanted to go toe to toe, we felt that was the way we wanted to approach the tournament,鈥� Southgate said afterwards. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done that.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e had consistent performances across three tournaments but tonight is probably the best we鈥檝e played against a major nation across the period that I鈥檝e been in charge. 
鈥淏ut we have fallen short and the scoreline is all that matters and that鈥檚 hard to take.鈥�
Southgate鈥檚 current contract runs through to the end of 2024, meaning he will have the chance to lead England at the next European Championship.
The England manager, however, said that he plans to take time to reflect on his future before deciding whether to stay or go.

- 鈥業 hope he stays鈥� -

鈥淚鈥檝e got to be sure that whatever decision I make is the right one,鈥� Southgate said. 
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 right to take a bit of time to do that because I know in the past how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments.鈥�
Southgate may perhaps be persuaded to stay by the array of talent that should remain at his disposal through the next tournament cycle.
The average of Saturday鈥檚 England starting line-up was 26. The core of the team should still be available for years to come. Players such as Jude Bellingham (19), Phil Foden (22), Bukayo Saka (21) and Declan Rice (23) are still maturing.
Southgate hinted that the age profile of his squad may persuade him to see out his contract.
鈥淭here is so much to be excited about when you see the age of a lot of the players,鈥� he said, before adding, ruefully: 鈥淏ut you still have to win games that are winnable to reach semifinals and finals.鈥�
Southgate may also be tempted to bear in mind the example of his continental counterparts. 
Former Germany coach Joachim Loew only tasted tournament success at the fourth attempt while France manager Didier Deschamps has been in charge of Les Bleus since 2012.
Southgate鈥檚 players are adamant their manager should remain in charge.
鈥淚 hope he stays,鈥� said Rice. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of talk around that. He鈥檚 been brilliant for us. There鈥檚 a lot of criticism that鈥檚 not deserved.鈥�
Harry Kane, who missed a late penalty against France that would have levelled the scores at 2-2, also hopes Southgate stays.
鈥淲e love having Gareth as a manager and we want him to stay for sure but that鈥檚 his decision,鈥� Kane said. 
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a great team, great young players kind of coming into their prime, and we鈥檝e got the Euros not too far away. So as much as this hurts we have to move on and look forward to that.鈥�
Former players also joined the chorus of support.
鈥淓ngland are in a pretty good place, let鈥檚 be clear about that,鈥� was the verdict of former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gone out of tournaments in disgrace and wondered what the hell the future is. We have a great future and he is a big part of that.鈥�
Neville鈥檚 former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane agreed. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done a fantastic job,鈥� Keane said. 鈥淒oes he want to give it a couple more years? Hopefully he does.鈥�