England – Squad, fixtures, odds and predictions

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England – Euro 2024 Overview

England have been drawn in Group C alongside Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.

The England men’s national football team is one of the oldest and most prominent national sides in the world. The “Three Lions” are known for being one of the founding national teams of modern football. Over the years, they have produced world-class players such as Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore, as well as more contemporary stars such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Harry Kane.

England have an impressive history of success, including the 1966 World Cup gold on home soil, where they defeated West Germany in the final 4-2 after extra time in front of 98,000 spectators at Wembley. They have never won the Euros, howeve, they have had a number of impressive performances, reaching the semi-finals in 1996 and the final in Euro 2020, when the tournament was stages a year late due to COVID.

England have, for the most part, been a potential quarterfinal team at major tournaments. However, in recent times, under Gareth Southgate, they have lived up to the huge expectation which is often placed upon them and have begun to look like genuine challengers. A semi-final appearance in the 2018 World Cup was followed by runners-up spot in Euro 2020. They exited the 2022 World Cup at the quarterfinal stage to eventual runners-up France.

Southgate is not, however, without his critics. Some accuse him of being too cautious, others dismiss his importance and say he should be doing even better with the players he has and he has also been criticised for being too loyal to certain players and for not freshening the squad up with in form players. This all seems to be a little unfair. Southgate’s work behind the scenes has been responsible for a lot of talented players coming through from the age-group teams and fulfilling their potential and his man management and loyalty to players has fostered a team spirit rarely matched in the history of the England national team.

Southgate may privately have been disappointed when Denmark were drawn out first to join England. They are a good side and will be looking for revenge after their defeat in 2020. Slovenia and Serbia, in theory, offer less stringent tests although both are capable of delivering a shock. England have a great spirit and have genuine world class talents in the likes of Declan Rice, Harry Kane and, especially, Jude Bellingham. They will be disappointed if they do not top the group.

England are seen as tournament favourites by many bookmakers, either in their own right or alongside France. They are favourites to progress from Group C.

For further details on Euro 2024 as a whole check out our tournament preview.

How England qualified for the Euros

Since failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship finals in Switzerland and Austria, England have qualified for four consecutive European Championships. In the European Championship qualifying group stage, England only dropped points in two games after six wins, two draws and zero defeats against Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.

The only point losses came away against Ukraine and North Macedonia. Notably, England defeated Italy, who they lost to in the EC final, twice again. England’s top scorer in the qualifiers was, Kane, which was not a great surprise. The Bayern Munich star scored eight goals, with Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka chipping in with four.

England Euro 2024 squad

Southgate has a lot of players to choose from when picking the 23-man squad for the Euros. The depth of England’s options is enormous, and Southgate has to take credit for this. The former England international was involved in restructuring coaching systems within English football and worked with age-group teams prior to taking the job as England manager.  Skipper Kane, Saka, Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden are offensive options while Southgate has two solid goalkeepers in Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale.

In midfield, England look really strong with Rice, Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer among the options.

At the back Kyle Walker, John Stones, Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier are players of genuine international class. Southgate has attracted criticism for sticking with Harry Maguire when the Manchester United defender has not been enjoying the best of times at club level. However, Maguire has never let England down and Southgate clearly views him as an important part of the side.

Southgate has implemented a style of play that focuses on possession, organisation and solid defensive play. This is complimented by a number of genuine game changers in the final third.

Southgate has emphasised the importance of having a balanced team that can defend well and at the same time be dangerous on the counter. He has also invested in a younger generation of players and emphasized the development of a strong team spirit and a collective game. This philosophy has seen England perform well at international level, including a semi-final place at the 2018 World Cup and a final place at Euro 2020.

Key players

Here we have listed a number of the key players in England’s Euro 2024 squad:

• Harry Kane – England captain Kane has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities and is an important player in his own right, providing the side’s main goal threat His goal record in both the club team and the national team is impressive to say the least and he is expected to be a leading contender to win the golden boot as the tournament’s leading scorer. In addition to his finishing, Kane is technically and tactically excellent. He links the play well and is great in the air. 
• Declan Rice – Prior to his move to Arsenal, Rice was instrumental in West Ham’s Conference League triumph and is now a key player in both the national and club teams. He excels by winning and protecting the ball effectively, shielding the defence. He is an excellent passer and his attacking play and leadership qualities are constantly improving. Physically strong and tactically intelligent, Rice is potentially one of the best midfielders in the tournament.
• John Stones – John Stones is a classic Pep Guardiola defender who can bring the ball out and build from the back. He shows composure and excellent positioning when defending and is capable of winning the ball in the air and on the ground. At club level he has regularly stepped into midfield when his side are in possession, however, he also excels as a more traditional central defender for the national team.
• Jude Bellingham– Bellingham has proved to be outstanding in a variety of positions in midfield, however, his attacking midfield role for Real Madrid this season has seen him develop into once of the world’s leading players. Wherever Southgate chooses to deploy him, Bellingham will be a major asset to England and is a potential player of the tournament and, given his goal return for Madrid, an outside bet for the Golden Boot.
• Phil Foden– Foden, still only 23, has arguably played the best football of his career this season. When Guardiola describes someone as being the best player in the Premier League, as he recently did with Foden, it makes you sit up and take notice. Another who could shine on this stage.

England Odds at Euro 2024

England are heavy favourites to qualify from Group C as winners and, along with the French, are favourites for the tournament. In the past, England sides have been overhyped, however, on this ocassion, they are genuine contenders. Player for player, the England squad are as good or better than the other nations. Southgate has also moulded them into an effective unit. This does not mean that England will win the Euros. There are other good sides around and, after a long hard season, some players, for some nations, may under perform. It does mean though that they have a realsitic chance and probably a far greater chance than most.

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England Euro 2024 Fixtures

hese are the fixtures for Group C, with England’s matches highlighted, along with the pòtential dates for the knockout stages:

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