England will be heading into Euro 2024 as one of the favourites to win the tournament if their qualifying form continues, with Gareth Southgate’s men picking up maximum points so far.
With only four games played for England in the qualifying stages, the Three Lions have certainly given a strong account of themselves and they already have a great chance of going to Germany next summer.
Many players that were part of the heartbreaking final defeat against Italy in the last Euros tournament are still in the squad, meaning they still have a point to prove and will want to rectify their hurt from 2021 and turn it into jubilation in 2024.
With the team still being widely in their mid 20s, this can only be a positive for Southgate’s side, as they’ll be able to continue building experience and connections with one another each tournament that comes by. However, previous tournament performances could play on the squad’s mind, such as the heartbreak against France at the 2022 World Cup, the aforementioned misery against Italy in the 2020 Euros and the disappointment against Croatia in 2018.
Southgate has been loyal to players such as Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire who have not been playing weekly for their clubs. When they have performed for England, however, they continue to repay the manager’s faith. In England’s last qualifying match against North Macedonia, Phillips again demonstrated his worth as he scored during his 30-minute cameo at Old Trafford. Maguire has helped the defence keep three clean sheets in his last three matches for England, enhancing England’s record of not conceding goals.
Going into the tournament in Germany, provided there is no major slip up in qualifying, England will have what feels like a new golden generation with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice starring in the team. A strong showing at the World Cup in Qatar from those players helps create a platform for the squad to build on.
At just 19-years-old, Bellingham has signed for Real Madrid, showing that one of the biggest clubs in the world truly appreciate his talent. The huge positive for England is that they have an exceptionally gifted midfielder who can be at the heart of the team for the next 10-12 years, injury permitting.
Harry Kane at 29-years-old still has a point to prove with England, especially after his unfortunate penalty miss against France in the last World Cup. Kane who is yet to secure silverware in his career wants to win something soon and will believe that clinching the European Championship with his country is seriously on the cards.
Manchester City’s John Stones has the versatility of being able to move into midfield along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, bringing a new dynamic to England which gives the manager different options depending on the opposition.
It would be something of a fairy-tale if England were able to win the tournament in Germany next summer, as the Three Lions have tasted defeat against the Germans in major tournaments more than the English fans would care to remember.
When England’s Lionesses won the women’s Euros against Germany last year the victory captured the imagination of the public, filling the country with jubilation. Could we see a repeat of that next summer?