Introduction
The European Football Championship, commonly referred to as the UEFA European Championship or simply Euro, is a quadrennial continental football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the member associations of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The tournament was scheduled to be held in 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the championship is being held across Europe, with the semi-finals and final taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. In this article, we will discuss why England has a strong chance of winning the Euro 2020.
England’s Squad
England has a strong and talented squad that has been in great form leading up to the tournament. The team has an array of young players who have been performing exceptionally well for their clubs. The likes of Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho have been in scintillating form for their respective teams and are expected to carry that form into the tournament. The team also has experienced players like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, and Kyle Walker who will provide leadership and guidance to the younger players.
The Coach
Gareth Southgate, the current head coach of the England national team, has done an excellent job since his appointment in 2016. He has implemented a style of play that suits the strengths of his team, and it has yielded positive results. Under his leadership, England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their best result since winning the World Cup in 1966. Southgate has also shown his tactical nous by deploying different formations to suit the opposition. His ability to manage and motivate his players will be crucial to England’s success in the tournament.
Home Advantage
England will have the home advantage as they will play their group stage matches at Wembley Stadium in London, as well as the semi-finals and final. Playing in front of a home crowd can be a great motivator for the players and can also be an intimidating factor for the opposition. England’s fans are known for their passionate support, and they will be out in full force to cheer their team on. The familiarity of the surroundings could also give the players an added advantage in terms of comfort and familiarity.
Weakened Opposition
England is in Group D, also known as the ‘Group of Death’, which includes Croatia, the team that knocked them out of the 2018 World Cup in the semi-finals, as well as Scotland and the Czech Republic. While this group is no doubt tough, England will be pleased to know that some of the other top teams in the tournament, such as France, Germany, and Portugal, are in groups with other strong teams, and therefore, will not have an easy ride to the knockout stages. This could be an advantage for England as they could potentially avoid some of the top teams until the later stages of the tournament.
Conclusion
England has a great chance of winning the Euro 2020 given their strong squad, the tactical nous of their coach, home advantage, and the weakened opposition they will face in the group stages. However, as with any tournament, there are no guarantees, and England will need to perform at their best in every match to come out on top. The team and their fans will be hoping that this is the year that England finally ends their long wait for a major international trophy.
