World Cup 2018: England will not have an open-top bus parade when they return from Russia

Gareth Southgate wants to keep England’s return from the World Cup as low-key as possible in order to start building for the future as soon as possible

Gareth Southgate will not allow his England players to get ahead of themselves by indulging in a homecoming parade when they return from the World Cup as he believes that their work has only just begun.

Despite widespread clamour for a planned celebration to welcome the Three Lions home from Russia, there will not be an open-top bus parade and their return to London this weekend will be kept as low-key as possible.

It’s understood to be part of Southgate’s plan to keep his England squad modest and down to earth in order to continue the positive relationship between the national side and fans that has grown at the World Cup, as well as the media.

The team are due to fly back to the United Kingdom on Sunday, the day after they bow out of the World Cup in the third-place play-off with Belgium, but even if they finish third at the tournament – their best World Cup result since winning the 1966 final – their return will be as small as possible.

"It was not my decision but I agree with the decision. If we make the final maybe it is different," Southgate said on Friday.

"The support we have had from home and the feeling of support has been immense. The feeling will live with us for ever. We can see the way the country has united behind football.

"But if we have a parade that would have been in one part of the country and we represent the whole country."

“There is no planned celebration at this point,” an FA Spokesman said. “We are not actively promoting the date, the time or even the airport they will return to.”

That has threatened the positive relationship with the media, who feel that wider access should be laid on upon their return in order to wrap up what has been a hugely successful World Cup campaign.

Gareth Southgate does not want England to have an open-top bus parade after the World Cup (Reuters)

Belgium, who like England lost in the semi-finals, will have an open-top bus parade put on for them upon their return to Brussels, with the nation reaching the last-four of the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged Southgate and his squad this week, and echoed his belief that it is important to use their time together now to build for future tournaments, starting with Euro 2020 where the final will be staged at Wembley Stadium.

(REUTERS)

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “She thinks he [Southgate] did a fantastic job and thinks the players and fans can look forward to a bright future.”