Euro 2024 – Can England finally live up to the hype?

In a football season that basically never ends, Euro 2024 kicks off today with hosts Germany taking on Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

It is a competition that will have its usual set of likely winners, with England undoubtedly both the most over-hyped, and the most likely to meet that hype by delivering disappointment.

England head coach Gareth Southgate has managed to get a talented generation of players at least competitive at these major tournaments, with a World Cup semifinal reached in 2018 and the final of the Euros two years later.

England also made the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, and after marching unbeaten through their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, are the current bookies’ favourites in Germany, just ahead of France and the hosts.

They have a formidable-looking attack, with Harry Kane coming off the back of another prolific season at Bayern Munich, Phil Foden having excelled for Manchester City, and Jude Bellingham a revelation this season at Real Madrid, playing in a more advanced role than at Borussia Dortmund. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is one of the best wide attackers in the world, while Chelsea’ Cole Palmer, the English Premier League Young Player of the Season, could add yet another dimension, if selected.

An underwhelming build-up

England, however, have stumbled into the start of the tournament, losing their final friendly at home to Iceland, making some wonder if they will flatter to deceive after all.

And then there is Southgate, who has received praise for how far he has got this England team, but who has also been accused of being too negative with his tactics.

The Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley is a case in point, where England took an early lead through Luke Shaw, but then seemed to go into their shell as Italy took control of the match and ultimately won on penalties.

Southgate has indicated he will leave the England job if his side do not win the Euros, making this very much a last-chance saloon for the 53 year-old. So will he unleash England’s full attacking potential?