Euro 2021: A Blessing in disguise for the Three Lions

The Three Lions would be preparing to play Italy on Saturday had the football schedule gone ahead as planned.

The arrival of Covid-19 has meant that sport has had to take a backseat whilst we prioritise the wellbeing of the thousands affected by the virus.

This has meant the highly anticipated Euro 2020 tournament has been postponed and will now take place in 2021.

Postponement

The 2020 tournament had a unique format, with host cities being spread all over Europe.

Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Saint Petersburg were all set to host games during the 24 team tournament.

UEFA announced that they would be pushing back the Euros by one year. The new tournament is proposed to begin on the 11 of June 2021, with the final scheduled for the 11th of July 2021.

At this moment it seems UEFA still intend on going ahead with the transcontinental format of the tournament.

What does this mean for the Three Lions?

After a World Cup in Russia which united the country and a Nations League campaign which could have easily seen England emerge victorious.

England fans haven’t had a reason to be this excited about the national side ahead of a major tournament in decades.

So England fans seeing this delay as something which might halt the momentum of this young side certainly have a case.

However, in my opinion this delay; although frustrating, will prove to be more of an advantage to England than any other nation.

There are 3 main reasons for this:

Injuries

This is the obvious one. There were question marks around whether England forwards Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford would be fit for the 2020 tournament.

I don’t think that there’s an England supporter in the land that would deny that they are undoubtedly a stronger side with these two fully fit.

Harry Kane has come off the back of a golden-boot winning 2018 World Cup proving himself to be one of the best strikers if not players in the world.

Alongside this, Nobody has impressed me more in a united shirt since Sir Alex Ferguson parted company with the club than Marcus Rashford has this season.

Young Players

In the run up to the last Euro’s it seemed the production of young English talent was drying up.

Four years on and the competition for places in the squad is intense, particularly in midfield.

Players like James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Jadon Sancho to name just a few, have proven their worth in the Premier League and given Southgate options in what have been problem positions for England in years gone by.

Another year also gives these players more opportunities to sharpen their skills and prove themselves on the international stage. A welcomed headache for the England gaffer.

England’s group

Croatia are the side which jumps off the page when looking at England’s group, having been a “bogey team” for the Three lions in the past.

However, their star players aren’t getting any younger. The midfield pair of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were the difference for the Croats in the semi-final of the World Cup in Russia.

But Modric will be 35 years old by the time the Euros comes around and Rakitic will be 33.

Alongside the El Classico rivals, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic were the goalscorers at the world cup and they too will be into their 30’s by the time the 2021 tournament rolls around, 32 & 35 respectively.

The Czech Republic side did beat England in Prague the last time the two sides met in the qualifiers for this tournament.

It was a different story at Wembley however with England breezing to a 5-0 victory. The average age of the Czech side is the highest of the 3 confirmed sides in Group D, with an average age of 27.9.

The average age of the Croatian side is 27.7 with the average age of the England side coming in considerably lower at 24.5 years. Which bodes well for the English side forced to prolong their preparations for the Euros.

The final side of the group will be decided by the Playoffs, One of the following: Scotland, Israel, Norway or Serbia will join England in group D.

The Squad

I am aiming to try and get into the head of Gareth Southgate here. This is not necessarily how I believe England will line up.

However, I do believe this is the squad Southgate will select based on where we are now and what will happen over the course of the next 14 months.

Honorable mentions:

Aarons (Norwich), Abraham, (Chelsea), Barkley (Chelsea), Barnes (Leicester), Bowen (West Ham), Cash (Nottingham Forest), Chalobah (Watford), Choudhury (Leicester), Coady (Wolves), Dele (Spurs), Diangana (West Brom-West Ham), Eze (QPR), Foster (Watford), Gray (Leicester), Greenwood (Man United), Holgate (Everton), Keane, Michael (Everton), Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Mings (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool), Rose (Newcastle-Spurs), Smalling (Roma- Man United), Tarkowski (Burnley), Tomori (Chelsea), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Watkins (Brentford), C. Wilson (Bournemouth),

A list of magnificent players and exciting prospects. The competition when it comes to selecting the Euro’s squad will come right down to the wire, a barometer of the quality of English players being produced.

The 23 man squad

I will start off by predicting the subs bench for the first game of the tournament, wish me luck!

GK: Henderson (Sheffield United-Man United), Pope (Burnley)

Despite fantastic seasons for the pair of shot stoppers, I don’t think either of them will quite make the leap for this tournament. Pickford has not and will not do enough wrong to be displaced.

DEF: James (Chelsea), Wan-Bissaka (Man United), Stones (Man City)

Wan-Bissaka is unfortunate to not start, but the Right back position looks like it will be occupied by a certain young Scouser for a number of years.

Stones is there for his experience, many wouldn’t favour Stones but he has won multiple titles for City and has 39 England caps, Gary Cahill is the only active Centre half with more.

If you are to make a substitution at Centre-back then it is most likely to protect a lead or due to injury. In both cases experience is imperative making Stones the likely choice.

Reece James will be a magnificent player, his “Swiss army knife” qualities will give him the edge over the ageing veteran Danny Rose.

This seems like a bit of a long shot at this moment but he will prove himself as the obvious choice as he gets more opportunities in a Chelsea shirt.

MID: Foden (Man City), Maddison (Leicester), Rice (West Ham), Winks (Spurs)

A move away from the old guard. The likes of Dier, Dele, Lingard and Barkley make way for exciting young talent.

Maddison and Foden offer themselves as attacking options on the bench and I expect them to play a significant part from the bench. Or as a starter if either one of them can find some form as the tournament progresses.

Whereas Rice can come on to protect leads and adds Centre-back cover.

Winks can provide something a little bit different. In big games where the battle will be won in midfield and keeping the ball is vital he will be expected to shine.

He can also provide positive passing between the lines which will be extremely effective against teams expected to “Park the Bus” or when chasing a game.

FWD: Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Rashford (Man United)

There was very little if anything at all between Rashford and Sancho battling for the right wing position. The only thing I could possibly use to separate them is the fact that Sancho will get more game time on the Wing as Rashford’s minutes tend to be split between playing as a winger, a true 9 and as a split striker.

Calvert-Lewin will pip Abraham and Wilson to claim the reserve spot. Before the break for the Coronavirus he was showing great form. His pace, physicality and eye for goal means that he fits the mould of a striker for a Gareth Southgate side.

Hudson-Odoi wouldn’t be my pick if the Euro’s was going ahead. But he is clearly fancied by Southgate due to the fact he appeared for England before he did for Chelsea in the premier league. Alongside new signing Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi will have an extremely productive run-up to the Euro’s with Chelsea.

The XI

Pickford and the back four have been ever present in the last few of Gareth’s squads. They have laid the foundations for a successful partnership which can be built on in this extended run up to the Euros.

The midfield might turn a few heads. Henderson has to be in there, his past few seasons as a vital cog in Klopp’s Liverpool machine has seen him lift the European cup and get his side within touching distance of a league title.

His Leadership, work rate, football intelligence and ability to control possession cements Henderson’s place in the XI.

Grealish has the X-factor which England have been missing all these years. He carries the ball as well as anyone in the premier league, I expect this position to be rotated and the player in the best nick will be given the role for the rest of the tournament. But Grealish is at the front of that queue currently.

Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United would be a shock pick if the Euros were this year. But by Christmas of 2020 he will be in the England squad and by the time the Euros comes around he’ll be starting.

He is the best passer of the ball available for selection, with the pace of Sancho, Sterling and Rashford. Partnered with the Movement of Kane and late runs from Grealish, throwing Phillips into the mix is a mouthwatering prospect.

The front three is the best across the whole competition. If they can get enough chances, I can't see a scenario where England don't win the game and even the competition.

Think of the delay as bittersweet if you are an England fan. The squad will be in much better shape by the time the tournament kicks off, giving the Three Lions every chance of lifting their first major trophy in 55 Years.

What’s your take on my attempt to read Southgate’s mind? What would you change? Is there anyone I’ve overlooked?