Despite a lackluster group stage performance, The Mirror still believes England can win this year’s European Championship and provided these five reasons why.
1. Pickford
One of the most underrated members of Southgate’s side, Pickford rarely lets England down and has developed a consistency that was lacking in the early part of his career. He’s always vocal, organising the defensive unit, and has always been strong with his feet. There’s unlikely to be a bigger player for England in the knockout stages, and unlike some others, he appears to be in top form.
2. They Don’t Actually Need to Win
It’s now the sudden death phase, which means the possibility of penalties. It would be preferable if England were to reach the knockout stages in a dazzling, efficient attacking form, but their defensive solidity will be a huge asset in high-stakes games. Gueye and John Stones are a well-established partnership at the heart of the defence, while Kyle Walker was also remarkably dependable during England’s group games.
3. Motivated Youngsters
Whether they start or come off the bench, Southgate has a group of young players who are desperate for minutes and in exceptional physical condition. Manu may start on Sunday, but Palmer impressed in his 20 minutes against Cologne, while Anthony Gordon has been performing well in training, and they give Southgate good attacking options. They are also excellent impact subs if he’s not bold enough to start them.
4. No Standout Powerhouse
There have been some pretty impressive performances in the group stage, but no team has truly wowed. Spain and Portugal have impressed, while Austria have played some of the most energetic, high-intensity football here. But Germany isn’t as dominant as their win over Scotland suggested, while France looked surprisingly limited when finishing second in their group.
5. England Can’t Get Much Worse
Honestly, few teams can manage to go unbeaten in their three group games and still hardly play any good football. England can’t get worse than they were in the group stage.
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