Just one look at the potential England squad for Euro 2024 and it is easy to see that they have the talent to compete and potentially win their first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
However, there are some questions over the squad, with several up-and-comers looking to displace players who were key to England reaching the final in the last Euros. Throughout this article, we are going to look at which England players will make the plane, what their route to the final looks like, and how they are likely to line-up in Germany.
England Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?
On the plane
Harry Kane is the captain and unless he gets injured between now and the tournament, he will be the first person allocated their England Euro 2024 kit by Gareth Southgate.
Outside of Jordan Pickford, it’s difficult to see anyone else between the posts. His form hasn’t always been brilliant at club level. However, since Aaron Ramsdale has been dropped by Arsenal, club form hasn’t been relevant.
Important! Another player who has struggled at times for his club, but is a guaranteed traveller, is Harry Maguire. He has been booed by England fans in the past, but there is little doubt that he will be part of the Euro 2024 campaign.
Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker are shoe-ins as Manchester City players who know how to win, but also know how to play within Southgate’s system. They all appeared regularly for the former Middlesbrough manager during the England Euro 2024 qualifying group, and they will surely be on the plane.
Jude Bellingham has proved himself as one of the best players in the world during his season at Real Madrid. He goes into the first game in the England Euro 2024 qualifying group as a guaranteed starter.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are also sure things for the plane. Trent Alexanader-Arnold’s flexibility ensures he will also travel and play his part in the England Euro 2024 qualifying group. Kieran Trippier will also travel if fit.
In Contention
Will Ivan Toney wear the England Euro 2024 kit? The answer is ‘probably yes’ and that’s good news if the Three Lions end up in yet another penalty shootout.
Toney has scored 30 penalties during his career.
That could be the key statistic if the England manager is looking towards the bench late in extra-time. It is also a reason why Southgate could go for Toney over Ollie Watkins if they’re looking for a player to replace Harry Kane.
It is likely that the Aston Villa striker will travel though, with Watkins thought to provide more than Toney in open play. Another option is Cole Palmer, who has had an incredible season at a struggling Chelsea.
Kobbie Mainoo should make it and could be boosted by a strong performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final in Wembley. Anthony Gordon is also high-up in the pecking order to wear the England away kit Euro 2024 in the opening game against Serbia. I’d also expect Conor Gallagher to go and Dean Henderson should also go after James Trafford lost his place at Burnley.
Work To Do: 5 Big Omissions from England Squad
Jordan Henderson is another member of the Qatar 2022 squad who has done little to impress as of late and may miss out. Meanwhile, a poor season from Marcus Rashford in the Premier League looks to have cost him his place.
Below are five players many thought would travel, but are likely to miss out.
5. Kalvin Phillips
Kalvin Phillips is unlikely to be donning either the home or England away kit Euro 2024. He simply hasn’t been good enough in recent times, with his move to West Ham not working out as many would have hoped.
4. Jordan Henderson
He is another member of the Qatar 2022 squad who has done little to impress as of late, with a poorly timed moved to Saudi and then Ajax. He will miss out.
3. Raheem Sterling
Sterling has been frozen out at international level, despite some positive performances for Chelsea
2. Ben Chilwell
Chilwell’s injuries have caught up with him and just wouldn’t be fit for the tournament/
- Marcus Rashford
Southgate explained the Rashford omission by pointing towards his Premier Leagues season.
“With Marcus, I just feel that other players in that area of the pitch had better seasons. It’s as simple as that.” England manager, Gareth Southgate.
England group euro 2024: Route to the Euro 2024 final in Berlin
England open their campaign against Serbia on June 16. They then take on Denmark four days later, before the closing game of the England Group Euro 2024, against Slovenia. The top two in each group, plus the four best third-placed teams, advance.
If all the results follow the World rankings, with the top teams winning, then England’s route to the final would be as follows.
- Round of 16: Sunday June 30 – England vs Austria/Romania/Turkey (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
- Quarter-final: Saturday July 6 – England vs Italy (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
- Semi-final: Wednesday July 10 – France vs England; kick-off 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
- Final: Sunday July 14 – Spain vs England; kick-off 8pm (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Sponsors for Euro 2024
Preparations for the championship are well underway. UEFA has signed a contract with the official gambling sponsor of the European Championship for the first time. The agreement comes amid growing scrutiny over football’s financial relationship with the gaming industry.
UEFA said online gambling brand Betano, owned by Kaizen Gaming, has become the global sponsor of the tournament being held in Germany. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
George Daskalakis , founder and CEO of Kaizen Gaming, commented: “We are delighted to be working with UEFA on the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024 tournament”.
‘We are delighted to welcome Kaizen Gaming as an official partner of UEFA EURO 2024,’ said Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Director of Marketing.
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Predicted final squad:
- Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson.
- Defenders: Walker, Trippier, Gomez, Stones, Dunk, Maguire, Guehi, Chilwell
- Midfielders: Rice, Mainoo, Grealish, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Maddison, Bellingham
- Forwards: Saka, Foden, Palmer, Gordon, Rashford, Watkins, Kane, Toney
England key players for this year’s European Championship
It is potentially the first time ever where England’s two best players, Bellingham and Kane, were not home-based. If England go far in this year’s tournament, then it’s likely this pair will have played a major part. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will also have to be on form, especially if any ties go to penalties.
England tactical analysis and formation
England’s defensive shape often works out as a 4-2-3-1, but can also display a 4-4-2. One thing is for sure, whoever is playing in the wide attacking positions will be expected to take on defensive responsibilities. Southgate is often criticised for negative play. However, in Euro 2020, that got England all the way to the final, so expect more of the same, with an emphasis on central midfield players dropping back to shelter their defenders. Former England player Ashley Young has told TalkSport he hopes they go more attacking though.
“I’m hoping we’re going to go with an attacking formation with Declan Rice sitting… I’d love to see Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham just in front of him… to show that England have got the attacking talent that they can beat anyone they come up against.” Former England international, Ashley Young.
Predicted line-up for England’s first Euro 2024 match
Who is going to get to wear the England Euro 2024 kit for the first game of the tournament against Serbia? Here’s our best bet.
- Goalkeeper: Pickford
- Defenders: Walker, Trippier, Stones, Maguire
- Midfielders: Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham
- Forwards: Saka, Foden, Kane,
Is football coming home, will England win the Euros? Only time will tell.
