Sir Gareth Southgate won't be on your TV screens during this World Cup. The former England manager says he deliberately turned down punditry work because he didn't think it would be "helpful" to the team's chances.

Southgate, 55, resigned after England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain. He led the side for 102 games over eight years, taking them to two European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

"It's obviously a very different tournament for me this one," Southgate said in an Instagram post. "I've been at the last seven World Cups as a player, as a broadcaster, a scout and then as the manager."

"I took a conscious decision not to do the TV. I didn't think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team and I don't want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them at press conferences, so best for me to keep out of the way."

England's campaign kicks off on Wednesday against Croatia in Arlington, Texas. They then face Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June, and Panama on Saturday, 27 June.

Southgate is only the second England manager to reach a major tournament final, after Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the 1966 World Cup. He also led England to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022.

Despite stepping back, Southgate is confident about England's chances. "Good luck to all the boys," he said. "I know all the big knockout nights that we've had mean they are going to be full of confidence going into this tournament. They have overcome so many hurdles to winning – penalty shootouts, semi-finals, got so close – and they are ready to win."

England midfielder Jude Bellingham recently said that "expectation" affected the team's connection during Euro 2024 and that players "needed to feel loved." Speaking about that campaign, Bellingham said: "We had done well in 2018 and done well in Qatar, and when it came to that tournament, we were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it. We were not playing particularly well, so even when we were winning, you didn't get the feeling you were as happy as you should be."

Southgate also features in a new BBC documentary addressing the crisis he says boys and young men are facing, exploring what shapes their attitudes and outlook.

For Ghana, the match against England on 23 June is a huge opportunity. The Black Stars will face a side packed with Premier League stars, and it's a chance for Ghanaian players to shine on the biggest stage. Southgate's decision to stay out of the spotlight means all attention will be on the pitch — exactly where he wants it.