Gareth Southgate is in line for a knighthood if England win the European Championship and could receive one even if they do not.

Harry Kane is also expected to be handed an upgrade to his MBE if he lifts the trophy in Berlin on Sunday – and potentially if he does not – while other members of the squad could be rewarded with honours, too.

Telegraph Sport has been told Southgate was close to being offered a knighthood after England came within a penalty shootout of winning Euro 2020 in what was their first major final since 1966.

But talks over whether to dub him “Sir Gareth” are said to have ended amid a debate in Boris Johnson’s Government about the manager’s involvement in a film investment scheme HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) had challenged over tax avoidance rules.

Southgate, whose spokesman has previously stressed he was a “proud Englishman” who “always paid his taxes and complied with HMRC fully throughout his career”, was said to have immediately resolved the matter when it was first raised.

Victory at Euro 2020 would almost certainly have trumped guidance published on the Government’s website that “poor tax behaviour is not consistent with the award of an honour”, as it would if England triumph on Sunday.

Southgate’s tax affairs, which came to light when he first became England manager in 2016, did not prevent him receiving an OBE in 2019 after he led his country to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990.

Since then, they have reached the Euro 2020 final, 2022 World Cup quarter-final, and Euro 2024 semi-final to cement his status as their most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.

Saturday’s nail-biting penalty shootout victory against Switzerland was also his 100th match in charge, a tally now only behind those of the late Ramsey and Sir Walter Winterbottom.

Sources with knowledge of the honours system have told Telegraph Sport this would put the 53-year-old firmly in line to join the latter pair in being knighted – albeit possibly not immediately – even if England lose to Netherlands on Wednesday in what could be his final match as manager.

The late Sir Bobby Robson, for example, was awarded the honour 12 years after quitting the England job.

Kane, Southgate’s captain during all four of his major tournaments and recipient of an MBE after winning the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, could also receive at least an OBE, despite having endured a mixed Euro 2024.

He is already England’s highest-ever scorer with 65 goals, including a record 13 at World Cups and Euros, and is closing in on becoming just the 10th man to be capped 100 times by the country.

Exactly who receives what gongs and when could be complicated by Labour’s General Election victory and whether ousted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak submits a resignation honours list.

Telegraph Sport has approached the Conservative Party for comment on the matter.

New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may also be forced to decide whether to rip up the recent convention that only the manager, captain and a handful of players get gongs if England win a major trophy in the likes of football, rugby and cricket.

That followed concerns too many sporting honours had been issued in the 2000s and early 2010s following the 2003 Rugby World Cup, 2005 Ashes and various Olympics.

The 2019 Cricket World Cup saw winning England coach Trevor Bayliss receive only an OBE and just four key members of the squad decorated.

Starmer, who is an avid football fan, is expected to attend Sunday’s Euro 2024 final if England get there.