After England failed at the final hurdle of Euro 2020, hope abounds that Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions can take the next step and become European champions in Germany this summer.
There are heaps of expectations for England to run deep again at Euro 2024. Some even believe failure to win the trophy could spell the end of Southgate’s reign as England manager.
Why Are England Joint-Favourites to Win Euro 2024?
At the time of writing, England are priced as 7/2 joint-favourites* to win Euro 2024, alongside France. Even Germany (7/1*) and Spain (8/1*) have much longer odds than the Three Lions. Despite the usual pessimism among England fans, why are bookmakers keen on England this summer?
A Team Desperate to Right the Wrongs of Euro 2020
England came within a whisker of becoming European champions on home soil in 2021. At the rearranged Euro 2020, Southgate’s men reached the final at Wembley, locking horns with the resolute Italians. Despite taking an early first-half lead, England let that slip and eventually succumbed in the cruellest of fashions on penalties.
This young team has had another three years – and a World Cup semi-final – to evolve and grow from this setback. They will be motivated to go deep in this summer’s tournament and make the country proud again.
A Favourable Group Draw
It’s fair to say that England are heavy favourites to top their group at the Euro 2024 finals. Drawn in Group C alongside Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia, Southgate’s men avoided the banana skins of Group B and D, with Spain, Croatia and Italy drawn together in Group B and the Netherlands and France drawn together in Group D.
England have locked horns with Denmark on several occasions in major tournaments. Their most recent meeting came at the 2020 Euros when Harry Kane’s extra-time winner sent the Three Lions into the Euro 2020 final.
Harry Kane is Fit and Firing
There’s a different dynamic to this England team when their captain and number nine, Harry Kane, is fully fit and in a rich vein of goalscoring form. Kane’s move to Bayern Munich has been hugely successful thus far. He’s notched 22 goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances in 2023/24, leading many in the German media to liken him to Robert Lewandowski in terms of his domination in Bundesliga penalty boxes.
If Kane can finish the domestic season with a Bundesliga title, a Bundesliga golden boot, and maybe some UEFA Champions League success, England will surely benefit this summer.
The Precocious Talent That is Jude Bellingham
Alongside a red-hot Kane, England will also have the luxury of goalscoring midfielder Jude Bellingham to play just behind him. The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last few years since making his debut for his hometown club, Birmingham City, at 16 and three years in Dortmund followed, with Real Madrid forking out €103 million for his services last summer.
Few could have predicted that Bellingham would settle so quickly at the Bernabeu. So much so that he’s now one of their key players, having notched 14 goals in 18 La Liga games so far this term. He is a proper box-to-box midfielder in every sense of the word and another game-changer in Southgate’s arsenal.
What About England’s Flaws?
Although there are many positives for the Three Lions going into this summer’s Euro 2024 finals, let’s also address the potential negatives for balance.
A Dearth of Elite Central Defenders
We’ve spoken plenty about England’s threats in the final third, but it’s in the backline where things have the potential to unravel. Southgate has had difficulty finding a reliable major defensive partnership in central defence, especially against elite-level opposition.
Manchester City’s ball-playing defender, John Stones, looks sure to take one of the central defensive spots in Germany. However, there’s a huge question mark over his likely partner. Despite his indifferent club form, Manchester United’s Harry Maguire remains a possibility.
There are still seats on the plane to Germany for centre-backs. Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has been the bedrock of the Seagulls’ defence in recent years, and a solid second half to this Premier League season could see him selected. It’s a similar story with Crystal Palace’s young centre-half, Marc Guehi, who is said to be highly rated by England’s coaching department.
Gareth Southgate’s Managerial Future Looms
The other elephant in the room is the future of England boss, Southgate. Initially, Southgate seemed set to depart after the 2022 World Cup but agreed to a new deal worth £2.5 million a year.
Southgate will be keen for the media to avoid speculating on his future or any potential replacements if the team fails to live up to the hype. His current deal expires in December 2024, which would leave all parties plenty of time for contemplation post-Euro 2024.
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*All odds are correct at the time of writing.
