England qualify for Euro 2024: Do Three Lions have what it takes to win tournament?

England can now begin finalising plans for Euro 2024 in Germany subsequent summer season after qualification was assured with a 3-1 victory in opposition to Italy at Wembley.

Southgate’s England can level to a good document in latest main tournaments, with a World Cup semi-final in Russia in 2018, a Euro 2020 remaining and the final eight in Qatar.

England, nonetheless, misplaced all of them. Southgate and his gamers are nonetheless the practically males who can get shut however not shut sufficient.

So will Euro 2024 be completely different? Can England’s males cross the road and win their first main trophy because the 1966 World Cup?

England’s assault will likely be feared

England’s attacking choices will likely be Southgate’s best energy in Germany, led by his nation’s document goalscorer, and his captain, Harry Kane.

The 30-year-old striker is as shut to a assure of objectives that England might want for – as he continues to show within the Bundesliga since his transfer to Bayern Munich from Tottenham. As normal, all the pieces will likely be crossed within the hope no harm misfortune befalls him.

Southgate additionally has excellent expertise to not solely provide Kane but in addition work in tandem with him, equivalent to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and the Manchester City pair of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. Raheem Sterling is presently marginalised by the supervisor however he has proven indicators of returning to his finest at Chelsea.

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford may also battle for a beginning place whereas Spurs’ James Maddison has taken his sport to one other stage after his transfer from Leicester City.

There could also be issues over options to Kane ought to he get injured, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins getting his probability in opposition to Australia. Brentford’s Ivan Toney will need to put himself again in rivalry when he returns to motion in January – and maybe at one other membership – after his suspension for breaking Football Association betting guidelines.

It is not any slight on any understudies to recommend they don’t seem to be in Kane’s class at this stage but when Southgate has all of England’s ahead choices match at first of Euro 2024, then each opponent will likely be cautious.

The Bellingham issue

Jude Bellingham will arrive at Euro 2024 together with his repute established as top-of-the-line gamers on the planet, having moved seamlessly from Borussia Dortmund to reveal he’s the whole package deal at Real Madrid.

Bellingham produced one other masterclass within the victory over Italy, inspiring England’s comeback after they went behind, excelling in each facet of the sport and even orchestrating the Wembley crowd, demanding higher quantity when the ambiance threatened to dip.

He additionally revels within the adulation of England’s supporters and the addition stress and expectation this brings. It is a weight he carries with ease. He is, past query, the true deal.

England and Southgate are lucky to have in Bellingham, who will likely be 21 throughout Euro 2024, somebody who would be the envy of each different nation on the match.

Even for comparatively tender years, Bellingham proved his fearlessness on the World Cup in Qatar and has since improved at a speedy fee.

If it had been ever doubted, Bellingham has confirmed his maturity and high quality by settling so rapidly in The Bernabeu hothouse. He is already a hero to the Madridistas within the quantity 5 jersey beforehand worn by the legendary Zinedine Zidane.

Bellingham gives Southgate a fierce aggressive edge, creativity, objectives and management. He is not going to draw back from any challenges at Euro 2024.

England’s flaws

England can boast a variety of threats in assault and a dependable goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford however previous issues nonetheless exist.

And as soon as once more we return to central defence, the place England have lengthy been weak in opposition to high-quality opposition.

The large query mark, whether or not Southgate likes it or not, stays over Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and, as a consequence, who will associate John Stones in Germany.

Southgate will proceed, with justification, to argue that Maguire has not let England down. But how far can his loyalty stretch if the 30-year-old doesn’t get common sport time between now and Euro 2024?

It is evident Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag is not going to give him that sport time, so does Southgate threat sending Maguire into Euro 2024 undercooked? This is a really high-risk technique.

There are options, with Brighton’s Lewis Dunk impressing, Levi Colwill coming by way of at Chelsea and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi stating his case. AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori has additionally had his alternative.

Stones is a assure however who will likely be alongside him is a priority in an space the place top-class strikers will at all times fancy their possibilities. There had been even indicators of it on the uncommon events Italy threatened at Wembley on Tuesday – and Euro 2024 will likely be no completely different.

England’s essential rivals

The normal suspects will likely be on parade in Germany, together with their Qatar conquerors France, full with Kylian Mbappe. France, nonetheless underneath the shrewd and skilled Didier Deschamps, are second within the Fifa standings behind World Cup holders Argentina.

The hosts are in transition however will nonetheless be formidable on house turf with a brand new coach, the highly-regarded Julian Nagelsmann. They will have the assist of a fervent soccer nation behind them.

Portugal, now with Roberto Martinez in cost and nonetheless with Cristiano Ronaldo as their celebrity, have romped by way of qualifying and have high quality all through. Martinez’s earlier job was in command of Belgium, who’re additionally by way of however with options their so-called “Golden Generation” could have handed their finest.

France, at first look, characterize the most important potential menace to England.

The want to study from previous near-misses

England’s drive deeper into tournaments in recent times has raised expectations that they’ll lastly finish the so-called years of harm. It has additionally sharpened give attention to their lack of ability to get themselves over the road.

The 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia and the Euro 2020 remaining loss to Italy on penalties at Wembley should be considered as enormous missed alternatives – and whereas England performed effectively earlier than dropping to France within the final eight in Qatar, the defining win at a vital stage of a significant match stays past them.

England will arrive in Germany little question telling us they have realized a lot from these merciless experiences. But the doubts will solely go away as soon as they show it with that landmark victory.

They have high quality and expertise. Will the expertise of dropping so painfully on three events present the catalyst to win in Germany?

Can England win Euro 2024?

Yes.

Will they win Euro 2024? See above for the query marks.

England will rightly be considered potential match winners given the vary of expertise on supply to Southgate, who should now make key choice selections within the months forward and hope none of his plans are scuppered by harm.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creation in midfield gives one thing further, so will Southgate ditch his pure inclination to play two holding midfielders, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and one different, or will he undertake the transfer optimistic strategy and choose the gifted Liverpool participant?

Saka is a sure starter on the best so what will Southgate do on the left? Grealish? Foden? Sterling? Will Mason Mount get issues going at Manchester United? Southgate is big admirer.

So sure, England can triumph at Euro 2024. But Southgate and his gamers nonetheless have to really show they are often winners at this stage. That may but be the most important barrier to cross.