Fabio Capello will resign if England fail to to reach the knock-out stages of the World Cup.
England must beat Slovenia on Wednesday to reach the last 16 but have looked clueless in their opening Group C games.
Capello, 64, has confided in friends that his position will become untenable if England make an early exit.
He has no intention of waiting for the FA backlash.
The front-runners to succeed Capello are Fulham’s Roy Hodgson and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |