UEFA EURO 2024 takes place this summer in Germany, with all of Europe’s top sides looking to win the trophy that Italy laid claim to at EURO 2020 after an intense penalty shootout victory at Wembley over England.
England are being tipped as one of the favourites for the competition, with a strong crop of talented youngsters coming through to complement their established senior players, many fans of The Three Lions are hoping that 2024 is finally their year after 68 years of disappointment.
We spoke to Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba about how he thinks England should line up, and which players he thinks will be key in England’s bid for glory.
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Balance is key!
What is most important in international football is finding a good balance between the players that you have, rather than forcing players into systems and positions that don’t suit them. Every international side that has been successful in the last decade has chosen to play players in their best positions and formations that they are familiar with.
We know that up front Harry Kane is the first name on the teamsheet, with Bukayo Saka very likely to start on the right wing. The questions start after this – do you play Jude Bellingham next to Declan Rice in holding midfield or as a number 10, especially with how well Phil Foden is currently playing?
I think we will see Bellingham play deeper in the easier matches, with Foden behind Kane and someone like Rashford on the left wing to add some pace and directness to the attack. Then in the bigger matches, Bellingham can come into the number 10 role with Foden going out wide, with someone maybe like Trent Alexander-Arnold coming in to play next to Rice.
Southgate has to let his youngsters shine!
One of the biggest criticisms of Gareth Southgate has been his unwillingness to change from players who are clearly past their prime. Jordan Henderson, for example, has been a great servant for England over the years but is no longer playing at the highest level. There are so many young, talented players who can play in midfield but we will never know if they’re good enough if they don’t get the chance to play!
Harry Maguire is another interesting selection for Southgate. On one hand he doesn’t play frequently for Manchester United, but on the other, he has never let Southgate down for England. I would definitely like to see the likes of Ezri Konsa and Jarrad Branthwaite get some minutes in the lead-up to the tournament – you need to have players you can trust waiting in the wings in case they are needed.
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