Will England win the Euros 2024? England’s team is jam-packed with talent but can Southgate take them all the way?
After watching England’s Lionesses win the Euros in 2022, every England fan will now turn their attention to the senior men’s squad and expect them to achieve the same feat in 2024.
For all the complaints about Gareth Southgate, he’s done a remarkable job at turning the national team around since taking the job in 2016.
In three major tournaments under him, England have reached a World Cup semi-final, and Euros final and lost only to France in the World Cup last year.
At Euros 2024, it’ll be the chance for Southgate and his men to take the final step and lift the first England men’s trophy since 1966.
And with the sort of players on the England roster, there’s no reason why England shouldn’t win. World-class players and depth on the bench – it’s a new golden generation.
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander Arnold … there’s so much talent in this squad the only question is: Can Gareth make the right calls?
To win England will need to make bolder choices than they have previously done.
They led in the World Cup semi-final with Croatia but conceded the initiative and lost. England sat off Italy at the last Euros instead of being braver in attack. They paid the price and lost on penalties. Some might say if England can’t win a final in front of a packed-out Wembley, how on earth will they hold their nerve in Germany?
In both tournaments, England could have won but Southgate didn’t make the bold moves needed to take them over the line.
This tournament will likely be the last with Southgate in charge. There have been reports Manchester United are eyeing him up to take over from Erik ten Hag. It’s not clear who would replace Southgate in that case, or if an England win would keep him in the job for longer.
With it still likely to be his last dance as England boss, bringing home some silverware would be a nice ending for a manager who has slowly brought change to the squad, and helped get the country excited about international men’s football again.