Vice-European champion, England is keen this time to go all the way, led in particular by the excellent Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid). With Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia in its group, it can gain certainty and confidence before a potential knockout phase. Even if his mind…
Hey, what if it was England’s year? Some of them are starting to seriously ask themselves the question. Fifty-eight years after their quest for the 1966 World Cup at home, the “Three Lions” still aspire to return to the heights of something, but so far all its generations, even the presumed golden ones, have fallen short. The new flight, played by Jude Bellingham, hopes to breathe new life into English football, starting by making an impression in its group stage.
To start this tournament, Gareth Southgate’s squad fell into a correct group, neither too strong nor too weak, ideal it seems to allow them to get their legs ready before a final phase which promises to be more spicy a priori . Less than two years after her elimination against France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup from which she says she learned a lot, the time has come for her to convert the try. Except that we don’t talk about rugby and that his last outings have hardly been sparkling.
Kane’s detractors
On the playing field, it is especially offensively that the English will have to step up a gear. They who, during Euro 2020, only conceded two goals but failed to beat Italy in the final must make a quality leap in this area. Their detractors will say that with Harry Kane in the team, no title can be achieved, but the unfortunate Bayern Munich striker remains a formidable achiever. With elements like Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka at his side, we say to ourselves that there is plenty to do. But we know that this selection has a fragile mind…
In this group, the European vice-champions will have to be level fairly quickly, because Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia will not offer themselves as expiatory victims. It is the Vikings who pose as the main opponents. Semi-finalists of the last Euro, Christian Eriksen and his partners are left with a failed World Cup but have a desire for revenge. After finishing at the top of their elimination group, driven in particular by Rasmus Hojlund’s 7 successes, they are aiming for the knockout phase, knowing that anything can happen afterwards.
Slovenia, the wind at your back?
Serbia and Slovenia appear less well equipped than Denmark, but be careful all the same! Dragan Stojkovic’s selection was hardly brilliant in the qualifiers and, with the exception of Dusan Vlahovic, his managers are aging. She still remains able to annoy anyone, even if her mentality is – for her either – not her strong point, as we saw during the last World Cup. Returning to the European concert 24 years after the great generation of Zlatko Zahovic, Slovenia for its part really wants to don the scratchy costume. Rather solid defensively, it has a top goalkeeper (Jan Oblak) and an attacker who embodies both the present and the future, Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig). Not to mention that the fascinating return to the game of Josip Ilicic (ex-Atalanta Bergamo) could transcend an entire group. Definitely interesting.
Arnaud Cerutti
>> Also read: Germany will want to gain momentum, Switzerland will take the next step And Three “names”, a Little Thumb and a spicy group
