An exciting summer of soccer is on its way for European football fans. From June 14, all eyes will be on Germany for Euro 2024. Just who will be crowned champions of Europe? Could it be England for the first time in their history.
While it’s 58 years (and counting) since England won the World Cup, they have at least won that tournament. England are still waiting for their first European title but came so close in 2021. Gareth Southgate’s side reached the Wembley final but lost on penalties to Italy and their dream ended.
That was the first time England had ever reached the final of the European Championships. You can argue that it was their best ever chance of lifting the European crown. That may well be so but the Three Lions head to Germany in June as the 3/1 favourites to bring the trophy back with them.
To win a major title, you need a squad that hasn’t just got talent galore but also plenty of experience.
When the last European Championship finals began, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham were both teenagers. They had nine caps and just one goal between them.
Fast forward to 2024 and both are so much more experienced. Saka is a regular scorer for both England and Arsenal. As for Bellingham, he’s had an astonishing first season with Real Madrid. Both will be key figures for England at Euro 2024.
Harry Kane remains captain of England and their top striker. Playing in Germany won’t matter one bit for him. The former Tottenham striker has had the best scoring season in his career and will want to carry on his form with England. He’s 11/2 to be top scorer at Euro 2024.
England has a squad that is packed with players who can score goals. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have had excellent seasons with Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. With Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford (who seems to play better for England than Manchester United), Jarrod Bowen and Jack Grealish, England have so many scoring opportunities.
If there are any weaknesses, it’s in defence. They drew 2-2 with Belgium in March and only two clean sheets have been kept in their last eight internationals.
Again, there is plenty of experience among England's defenders. Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker have over 140 caps between them but also their fair share of critics. Jordan Pickford is the likely number one goalkeeper but he still remains capable of some poor performances. England might need to have plenty of goalscorers as they struggle to avoid conceding goals.
Group C sees England up against Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia. They could have been given a much tougher draw than that. The Netherlands, Italy and Hungary were all in the other pots when the draw was made. It’s 2/5 that they top Group C and that should be the case.
Not that we want to see England in such a position but finishing third in their group could still see them go into the knockout stages. Doing so could see them up against a side such as Portugal or Belgium if that were to happen.
England have had a habit of making a slow start to a tournament. They take on Serbia in their opening group game on June 16 and are at odds 1/2 to win the match, according to various bookies and offers they have. The Serbs qualified behind Hungary (who beat them twice) in their qualifying group.
There’s only been one previous match and that was 11 years ago when they were Serbia and Montenegro. England won that match 2-1 and a certain Gareth Southgate played in that match. England are to start their campaign with a win.
More familiar opponents are up next with a game against Denmark on June 20. England beat the Danes in the semi-finals of the last European Championships. A year before that though, they’d met twice in the Nations League with a goalless draw in Denmark and a 1-0 home loss at Wembley.
Denmark finished top of qualifying Group E ahead of Slovenia on head-to-head results. They won all of their home games but on the road only had wins in San Marino and Finland.
Slovenia are England’s final group opponents on June 25. They should have already qualified by then and have never lost to the Slovenians. Five out of six games have been won, the most recent being in a 2017 World Cup qualifier.
England should be able to win Group C and that would see them face one of the best third-placed countries in the last 16. The quarter-finals could see them face Italy or Spain with Belgium or the Netherlands possible semi-final opponents.
It’s never easy winning any tournament, especially away from home. England do have a chance of winning their first European title
