England has come a long way since their humiliating exit from EURO 2016 at the hands of Iceland. Under the guidance of Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions have reached the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of EURO 2020, where they lost on penalties to Italy. Now, they have another chance to end their 58-year wait for a major trophy at EURO 2024, which Germany will host. But what are their chances of success? And what are the main factors that will determine their fate? Here are some key points to consider.
The Southgate Effect: How the Manager Has Transformed England
One of the main reasons for England’s recent resurgence is the leadership and vision of Gareth Southgate, who took over as manager in 2016. Southgate has instilled a new culture of professionalism, unity, and positivity in the squad, as well as a clear identity and style of play. He has also shown a willingness to trust young and talented players, such as Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, who have added flair and creativity to the team. Southgate has also managed to handle the pressure and expectations of the media and the fans with grace and humility and has earned the respect and admiration of the nation.
The Squad: Strength in Depth and Diversity
Another factor that gives England an edge at EURO 2024 is the quality and depth of their squad, which boasts some of the best players in Europe in every position. From Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup and EURO 2020, to Jordan Pickford, who was named the best goalkeeper at EURO 2020, England has world-class talent in every department. They also have a variety of options and formations to choose from, depending on the opponent and the situation. For instance, they can play with a back three or a back four, with wing-backs or full-backs, with one or two strikers, with or without a holding midfielder, and so on. They also have players who can play multiple roles, such as Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, and Jack Grealish.
The Home Advantage: Wembley Calling
One of the most significant advantages that England will have at EURO 2024 is that they will play most of their games at Wembley Stadium in London, which will give them a massive boost of support and confidence. Wembley will host seven games at EURO 2024, including the semi-finals and the final, as well as three group matches of England and one round-of-16 match. Wembley has a capacity of 90,000 spectators and is the largest venue of the tournament. England has a good record at Wembley, having won 15 out of their last 18 games. They also reached the final of EURO 2020 at Wembley, where they only lost on penalties to Italy after a 1-1 draw.
The Challenges: Competition, Pressure, and Age
However, England will also face some significant challenges at EURO 2024, which could derail their hopes of glory. One is the competition from other strong teams, such as France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and others. These teams have proven their quality and pedigree at previous tournaments and will seriously threaten England’s ambitions. Another challenge is the pressure and expectations of being among the favourites and playing at home. England will have to cope with the intense scrutiny and hype surrounding them throughout the tournament and avoid complacency or overconfidence. A third challenge is the possible decline or injury of some key players who are approaching their 30s or beyond, such as Harry Maguire (31), Raheem Sterling (29), Jordan Henderson (33), Kyle Walker (33), Kieran Trippier (33), Harry Kane (30), Marcus Rashford (26), etc. These players may not be at their peak physical or mental condition by 2024 or may suffer from fatigue or loss of form.
The Fixtures: A Breakdown of England’s Group Stage Opponents
England and Poland, Hungary, and Albania have been drawn into Group D for EURO 2024. They will play all three games at Wembley Stadium on June 14th (Poland), June 18th (Hungary), and June 22nd (Albania). Here is a brief overview of each opponent:
– Poland: The highest-ranked team in Group D according to FIFA rankings (20th), Poland is led by Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers in the world. They have qualified for four consecutive EUROs but have never gone beyond the quarter-finals. They finished fourth in their group at EURO 2020, losing to Slovakia and Sweden and drawing with Spain.
– Hungary: In the surprise package of EURO 2020, Hungary held France and Germany to draws and only lost to Portugal in the last minutes of their group games. They have a solid defensive unit and a passionate fan base but lack star quality and creativity in attack. They are ranked 37th by FIFA and have not reached the knockout stage of a EURO since 1972.
– Albania: The lowest-ranked team in Group D (66th), Albania are making their second appearance at a EURO after debuting in 2016. They have a young and energetic squad but need more experience and depth at this level. They finished third in their qualifying group behind France and Turkey and won only one of their six games at the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League.
If England tops their group, they will face the runner-up of Group F (which includes Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Belarus) in the round of 16 at Wembley on June 27th. If they finish second, they will face the runner-up of Group E (which includes Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Finland) in the round of 16 at the Munich Football Arena on June 26th. If they finish third, they will have to hope to be one of the four best third-placed teams to advance to the knockout stage.
The Fans: How the England Supporters Will Create a Festive and Passionate Atmosphere
One of the most important factors that could inspire England to glory at Euro 2024 is the support and enthusiasm of their fans, which will create a festive and passionate atmosphere at Wembley and across the country. England fans are known for their loyalty and devotion to their team and their humour and creativity in chants and songs. They will also bring a lot of colour and flair to the stadiums with their flags, banners, costumes, and face paints. England fans have also shown great respect and solidarity with other nations, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the whole world. They will be eager to celebrate football as a unifying force that brings joy and hope to millions of people.
Do you want to see England play at EURO 2024? Then hurry up and apply for Euro 2024 tickets today. You can choose any game, but remember that tickets are limited. Don’t wait and apply now! This is your chance to be part of history and cheer on England at EURO 2024
The Verdict: A Realistic Chance but No Guarantees
In conclusion, England has a realistic chance of winning EURO 2024 for the first time in their history, but they will need to overcome some formidable obstacles along the way. They have a great manager, a talented and diverse squad, and a home advantage that could make all the difference. However, they also have to deal with fierce competition from other teams, high pressure from themselves and others, and potential issues with some ageing or injured players. Ultimately, it will come down to how well they perform on the pitch and how much they believe in themselves and each other. As Southgate said after the EURO 2020 final: “We have to keep improving. We have to keep making the next step.”
