England have not boasted such a wealth of attacking talent for decades. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan
This may be the best option. A collection of players in England's starting XI since Sven-Göran Eriksson headed to Portugal two decades ago with a spring in his step and a plan to send teenager Wayne Rooney into defense for Europe.
England's qualification for Euro 2024, 20 years later, recalls that brief period at the turn of the century when the idea of a golden generation seemed more like a brilliant promise than a bitter rebuke. In 2004, there were big names and power at every position. After a second win over Italy in 2023, modern England are once again a team with big players in their peak years — and once again the embers of hope are smoldering.
Gareth Southgate's reign brought England a fourth major tournament. He is the first coach to do so since Walter Winterbottom, the first man in charge of the national team, although earlier, when the Football Association trusted the coach to select the team.
The English team at Euro 2004 had it all. Paul Scholes hasn't retired yet. Michael Owen's hamstrings were not pushed to their limits. Frank Lampard was about to shatter the glass ceiling that had previously been imagined for his career. Steven Gerrard is back. Even without the suspended Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell were in defense.
There was also Rooney, although it all came crashing down prematurely with his innocuous metatarsal burst in the quarter-final against hosts Portugal and then another penalty disaster. Southgate's England career ended just months before the tournament, but he remembers the hope that accompanied the team he missed out on. The failure that followed in 2006 and then qualifying for Euro 2008 undermined the nation's confidence. Looking back, we can say that this was the team that was at Euro 2004.
England regretted Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury before losing to Portugal on penalties at Euro 2004. Photo: Getty Images/Martin Rose
England now head to the European Championships, which could mark the peak of Southgate's arc. Ready for tournaments, seasoned by some mistakes. The team is young, partly with a mature mentality. They will arrive in Germany next summer with a first squad already assembled in Southgate's mind and then a bench filled with Premier League and Champions League winners.
This team scored a second victory in qualifying over the reigning European champions. Still missing were Bukayo Saka and Luke Shaw, who would have been expected to start if they were available.
Italy is a test for any side. In the fourth meeting between the two sides since England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy, they showed up at Wembley with a team devastated by a betting scandal and a form that made them look like Leicester City. Not to mention the transfer of coach Roberto Mancini to Saudi Arabia. Despite all this, they still took England to the end.
Southgate's England is changing: that 4-3-3 formation is being transformed as one of Europe's best players — in form alone, of course — takes it to the next level. end. different form. You could say that ahead of Euro 2024, Jude Bellingham will be the equivalent of that era's Rooney. But Bellingham, 20, is far more experienced than the teenage firecracker Rooney was 20 years ago, exciting as he was.
This was Bellingham's 27th cap for England. Rooney was nine when Euro 2004 began. Bellingham has already established himself as a key player for Real Madrid this season. Rooney had just played his last match for Everton in the summer of 2004, although destination Manchester United didn't yet realize that was the case.
Bellingham quickly became the leader on the field. Photo: Getty Images/Christopher Lee
Kane's two goals, taking him to 61 goals in 87 appearances, further confirm that he is one of Europe's outstanding strikers at the age of 30. John Stones, an equally important player in this team, at the age of 29, has 69 caps for the national team. . Kyle Walker, 33, has 79 caps. This is a good age and good international reputation for strong England players.
UEFA's decision on squad size has yet to be made, and if it drops back to 23, there could be someone with a big season (and reputation) behind them that Germany doesn't need. In this era, many good players fail to make it into the England team. It was always remarkable in the 2000s that Spain, the best country at the time, left some good footballers with very mediocre international careers. This is one of the truest indicators of the quality of a great football nation — who they can afford to leave behind.
England in the 2000s had a quota of players who had spent a decent month in the Premier League. Now that has changed. The 2024 team has tournament experience and competition for places. Injuries and form will go a long way in shaping those who travel to Germany in June, but there are many more behind this first squad.
Since they lost the World Cup quarter-final to France on December 10, England have played eight matches and won seven. On this occasion they fell behind Italy, but came roaring back. Of course, this hope is quickly dashed at tournaments, as it was in 2004 and many times since. However, the details are in place.
Свежие комментарии