Looking for revenge after the heartbreak of Euro 2020, England shape up as one of the tournament favourites.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate raised some eyebrows with a bold but encouraging squad selection, leaving established internationals Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford at home in favour of a host of virtually uncapped youngsters.
Now equipped with a talented squad brimming with young stars eager to prove themselves on the biggest stage, England enter the tournament as the bookies’ favourite.
The Three Lions beat Italy to the top of qualifying Group C after staying unbeaten across all eight games. Now placed in Euro Group C alongside Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia, England are expected to top the group after an encouraging qualification process paired with the undeniable quality of English players in the season just finished.
Star Player:
It’s a three-way toss-up for England’s star player, but Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have to be at the forefront of Southgate’s team selection.
Coming off the back of a stellar (albeit trophyless) debut season at FC Bayern where he scored 44 goals, England skipper Kane comes with a goal guarantee. Already the Three Lions’ all-time record goalscorer at 30-years-old, Kane has been the most consistent player under Southgate and will want to christen an unlucky season with an ever-elusive bit of silverware.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, who currently leads as a front runner for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, is a massive asset to England this summer. Now fully realised as one of the world’s best players, the 20-year-old offers a positionally-flexible, mature, dominant midfield option and a superb candidate for the next England captain.
The player links up with the England squad off the back of a Champions League and La Liga double for Real Madrid, across which Bellingham tallied 23 goals and 11 assists operating as a hybrid midfield/striker.
In any other season, Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden would be an obvious shout for the star player category. He has continued to develop under Pep Guardiola and has become the most important player at one of the best teams on the planet in Manchester City. Able to play on either wing, in midfield, or even as a false nine, Foden offers undeniable quality on and off the ball, with a keen eye for fashioning goals out of seemingly nowhere.
Breakout star to watch:
With a host of young players selected as Southgate looks to revamp his squad, Cole Palmer’s name stands out as a future England star. The 22-year-old scored his first Three Lions goal against Bosnia Herzegovina in the buildup to the tournament, and looks to be a really talented asset to Southgate’s selection.
The player had a superb individual season in the Premier League for Chelsea, tallying 22 goals and 11 assists in his debut year at the Bridge. Despite his red-hot form and ability to play on the wing or in the 10, Palmer could struggle to wrestle game time from the likes of Bellingham, Saka and Foden who have already gained Southgate’s trust.
Manager: Gareth Southgate
England’s waistcoat-clad boss has been in charge since the 2018 World Cup, which saw the Three Lions roar into the semi-final stage. With an ever-improving squad, Southgate helped to guide his side into the final of the 2020 European Championships, but lost out to Italy after a gutting penalty shootout which saw his young players put to the knife.
In the build-up to Euro 2024, Southgate has preferred a back four with two defensive midfielders to provide defensive cover – one of which being manned by Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold who looks finally set to complete a prophesied transition into the middle of the park.
Southgate’s future as England boss hinges on his team’s success this summer. The feeling around England is that the squad is amongst the strongest in the world and is completely capable of picking up silverware – something Southgate is yet to achieve.
Fixtures:
Serbia v England – 16/06/2024 – Veltins Arena
Denmark v England – 20/06/2024 – Deutsche Bank Park
England v Slovenia – 25/04/2024 – Rhein Energie Stadion