Euro 2024

[dannyonclarets]

This is certainly the strongest squad we have had in over 40 years. Not even up for debate.

So no reason why we can't win it. Looking forward to it and will attempt to watch every game.

[bobinho]

Hard to believe that if Shaw is injured we don't have a left back. No better than Burnley.

I like Trippier at left back as much as I like Vitinho there - the full back positions are specialised and really not interchangeable. It's not like being a winger.

Any chance you could let Southgate know that?

As Danny says, no reason why we can’t win it - but one very good reason why we won’t.

[Hipper]

Funnily enough I've been asking myself if I should watch the Euros.

I've no particular interest in England but I do like football. It might be interesting to see how Burnley players do and some countries perhaps. What I fear is, as is often the case, I will be very annoyed with cheating that will almost certainly go on and therefore give up.

[the_magic_rat]

Not seen anybody mention this yet, unless I missed it.
This surprises me as England are far more important than Burnley.
Promotion and relegation come and go but an England win is a once in a generation thing (or more)!
I really think this time, more than any other time, it’s coming home!
Who do you think is going to win, if not us?

Watch out Devil's Advocate, there's a new kid on the block and he's coming to take your crown!

[Falcon]

Fun little predictor/simulator here

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/eu ... very-game/

I got a Germany-France final when I did it.

[Terry Cochrane]

This is certainly the strongest squad we have had in over 40 years. Not even up for debate.

So no reason why we can't win it. Looking forward to it and will attempt to watch every game.

Definitely a statement up for debate. Midfield yes but our defence is by no means the strongest in 40 years. Far from it.

[Fizzy]

This surprises me as England are far more important than Burnley.

Not in my world

[Terry Cochrane]

Eze starts tonight. Good opportunity to see what he can do

[bumba]

Fun little predictor/simulator here

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/eu ... very-game/

I got a Germany-France final when I did it.

I got an England Scotland quarter final then England Portugal final

[Ric_C]

They were going through all our defensive options on the radio the other day. Tarkowski was mentioned as a player really hard done to by Southgate. Most of our other options are either lacking in experience, injured or massively out of form, which is a major concern.

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

Gutted I am away or booked up for almost all the matches, 2006 was amazing in Germany and I would love to be there. Friends are going and there would be opportunities to get tickets

Defence is only weak spot, should progress well

Hi loyal, i am heading over without tickets. What's the best option for getting hands on two for a game, and not just meaning England game....

Thanks in advance

[CaptainKirk]

Flipping eck - just had a go on the Predictor.
I have us down as beating Italy, France and then Spain to win it.
Maybe it's not coming home after all!
Having said that, if you're going to win something then do it in style and settle a few old scores along the way.

[Longsider]

I got an England Scotland quarter final then England Portugal final

I got England V Germany final

[ecc]

England and France favourites for me. Germany only rated because they're at home and because despite being awful for years will one day return.

[Newcastleclaret93]

England and France favourites for me. Germany only rated because they're at home and because despite being awful for years will one day return.

They have got a really strong this year.

Some players are in top form

[KellyClaret]

This is certainly the strongest squad we have had in over 40 years. Not even up for debate.

So no reason why we can't win it. Looking forward to it and will attempt to watch every game.

England's Euro 2004 squad:

Goalkeepers: 1. David James (Man City), 13. Paul Robinson (Tottenham), 22. Ian Walker (Leicester)

Defenders: 2. Gary Neville (Man Utd), 3. Ashley Cole (Arsenal), 5. John Terry (Chelsea), 6. Sol Campbell (Arsenal), 12. Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), 14. Phil Neville (Man Utd), 15. Ledley King (Tottenham), 16. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool).

Midfielders: 4. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool|), 7. David Beckham (Real Madrid), 8. Paul Scholes (Man Utd), 11. Frank Lampard (Chelsea), 17. Nicky Butt (Man Utd), 18. Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), 19. Joe Cole (Chelsea), 20. Kieron Dyer (Newcastle)

Strikers: 9. Wayne Rooney (Everton), 10. Michael Owen (Liverpool), 21. Emile Heskey (Birmingham), 23. Darius Vassell (Aston Villa).

[Inchy]

If we try and outscore everyone and not worry about defending we will win

If we focus on preserving a 0-0 then we will lose

[ecc]

That was a good squad.

Best England defence in the last 30 years (put in Ferdinand too).

I know nobody likes him - and he's hard to like as a bloke - but Ashley Cole was England's last world-class defender IMHO. His mate Terry is highy unpleasant too but a damn good defender as was Campbell.

[ecc]

They have got a really strong this year.

Some players are in top form

Two wins against France and The Netherlands after a horrific run in friendlies.

[bobinho]

I got an England Scotland quarter final then England Portugal final

If by some miracle we ended up with Scotland in the 1/4’s, then there is NO doubt in my mind they’d beat us. They’d set up to beat us, they’d be well up for beating us, and they’d show up on the night. I reckon they’d just want it more than us. You cannot fault their effort levels when they play us. You can see what it means to them when the camera pans down the line ups.

[claretonthecoast1882]

If by some miracle we ended up with Scotland in the 1/4’s, then there is NO doubt in my mind they’d beat us. They’d set up to beat us, they’d be well up for beating us, and they’d show up on the night. I reckon they’d just want it more than us. You cannot fault their effort levels when they play us. You can see what it means to them when the camera pans down the line ups.

If the Jocks somehow got to the 1/4's the players and fans would be too hammered to even turn up for the match. They held a month long party after drawing 0-0 with us.

I think they would settle for just scoring a goal in the group stage before heading home.

[distortiondave]

Scotland in the quarter finals?!

[4:20]

A minor miracle if Scotland gets out of that Germany, Hungary and Switzerland group. Would be fun if they managed it and met England down the line. I remember the Euro Play-off matches in 99' but I don't think they've ever met in the knockout stages of a World cup/Euros

[Rileybobs]

If by some miracle we ended up with Scotland in the 1/4’s, then there is NO doubt in my mind they’d beat us. They’d set up to beat us, they’d be well up for beating us, and they’d show up on the night. I reckon they’d just want it more than us. You cannot fault their effort levels when they play us. You can see what it means to them when the camera pans down the line ups.

Not even the tiniest bit of doubt?

I turn 39 this month and Scotland have beaten England once in my lifetime.

[bobinho]

Not even the tiniest bit of doubt?

I turn 39 this month and Scotland have beaten England once in my lifetime.

No. On paper we should absolutely wallop em into next year, but we’d set up a defensive posture, petrified of conceding, and afraid to express ourselves. We are stifled to the point of impotence under GS. You only have to cast your mind back to the last time we played em (and the ten years of Dyche) to see what average players, with a role and a plan can achieve.

[Rileybobs]

No. On paper we should absolutely wallop em into next year, but we’d set up a defensive posture, petrified of conceding, and afraid to express ourselves. We are stifled to the point of impotence under GS. You only have to cast your mind back to the last time we played em (and the ten years of Dyche) to see what average players, with a role and a plan can achieve.

No idea where this idea that England are set up defensively under GS comes from.

We were crap against Scotland when we last played them and played for a draw, because that was all we needed to practically guarantee qualifying from the group stage.

1 win in 39 years shows what average players with a role and a plan can achieve, and singing the national anthem louder doesn't really count for much.

[daveisaclaret]

Given Scotland have never got out of the group stage at a major tournament it's pretty safe to make whatever prediction you want about what would happen if they did.

[ISpeds00]

Not seen anybody mention this yet, unless I missed it.
This surprises me as England are far more important than Burnley.
Promotion and relegation come and go but an England win is a once in a generation thing (or more)!
I really think this time, more than any other time, it’s coming home!
Who do you think is going to win, if not us?

Burnley will always come before England whilst Southgate is in charge

[JohnMac]

My winners are Italy

[bobinho]

Burnley will always come before England

And there’s my take on it.

[bobinho]

No idea where this idea that England are set up defensively under GS comes from.

We were crap against Scotland when we last played them and played for a draw, because that was all we needed to practically guarantee qualifying from the group stage.

1 win in 39 years shows what average players with a role and a plan can achieve, and singing the national anthem louder doesn't really count for much.

Answered your own question from para 1 in para 2. Even if you don’t accept that, the GS handbrake has always been on. “Just don’t concede lads”

They haven’t always had average players to work with in the last 39 years though. They’ve had some absolute dross, with one or two good ones who could cut it in league 1, managed by some utter fools.

They’ve got some average players now though, and some are decidedly better than that. A decent manager gets a proper tune out of them. Dyche would have them out of the group stages I reckon, behind ze Germans.

[ecc]

My winners are Italy

Based on what, JohnMac?

You won't find too many more pro-Italians on here than me (dandeclaret is pretty keen on Italian football though) but I can see Italy struggling to get out of their group unless via the 3rd place.

Spain should ease through with Albania capable of causing an upset.

The only striker is Scamacca and whilst he's doing pretty well at Atalanta he's yet to do it for Italy. When I see El Shaarawy in the squad it frightens me.

[equinox]

And there’s my take on it.

Yes, you've made that quite clear, we get it.

[equinox]

A decent manager gets a proper tune out of them. Dyche would have them out of the group stages I reckon, behind ze Germans.

Who was the Manager of England before Southgate?

[JohnMac]

Based on what, JohnMac?

You won't find too many more pro-Italians on here than me (dandeclaret is pretty keen on Italian football though) but I can see Italy struggling to get out of their group unless via the 3rd place.

Spain should ease through with Albania capable of causing an upset.

The only striker is Scamacca and whilst he's doing pretty well at Atalanta he's yet to do it for Italy. When I see El Shaarawy in the squad it frightens me.

Rolling a Dice on all the fixtures on that link. At least I never ended up with Georgia

[JohnMac]

I did it again and got Albania

[CaptainKirk]

Having a few days in Tuscany (surprise from our daughter) and spoke to a couple of locals who don’t rate the manager and think they have no chance.
Football fans eh? The same the world over.

[CoolClaret]

This is certainly the strongest squad we have had in over 40 years. Not even up for debate.

So no reason why we can't win it. Looking forward to it and will attempt to watch every game.

How is it when the only recognised left back may not even be fit enough to play in a single match?

[Loyalclaret]

Hi loyal, i am heading over without tickets. What's the best option for getting hands on two for a game, and not just meaning England game....

Thanks in advance

Friends have successfully bought tickets from here over last few days, right to final, transferred to Euro app same day. Obviously inflated prices with fees but with digital tickets it's going to be more difficult picking last minute cheap ones up. Have a blast
www.ticombo.com/en/sports-tickets/footb ... quantity=1

[burnmark]

Maddison left out of squad and has already left the training camp according to The Athletic.

No real surprise.

[Goliath]

It amazes me that people still think we've always gone out to play boring defensive football. Surely when it's been happening for over 20 years you'd realise that it's not really possible to play exciting fluent football when the majority of games are against teams sat in narrow deep blocks and defending with numbers.

International football is extremely boring until tournament football because it's designed to ensure the best teams qualify. People would complain if it went the other way and we ended up with Austria vs Switzerland as a final because the better teams had been knocked out in qualifying or knocked each other our early on in the group stage.

There's no real alternative for the Euros when there's about 5 or 6 good teams and the rest have nowhere near the same quality.

[Darnhill Claret]

I think Germany will do well to qualify from their group.

[The Hung Juror]

Wondering why this has come out now, ahead of the official announcement on Saturday, but more because just Maddison has been named.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Wondering why this has come out now, ahead of the official announcement on Saturday, but more because just Maddison has been named.

Maybe he had a holiday booked and asked GS whether he should cancel it or not

[Elizabeth]

Wondering why this has come out now, ahead of the official announcement on Saturday, but more because just Maddison has been named.

Unconfirmed Sky Sports report that other players have now been told that they also have been left out of the final squad
I would be surprised if many would disagree with the Madison decision in view of his recent club form and the emerging new talent

[RVclaret]

Trafford, Quansah, Maguire, Jones, Grealish, Maddison left out according to David Ornstein. One more to go… losing Maguire is a blow.

[Vegas Claret]

The seven England players expected to miss out on the Euro 2024 squad are: Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, James Maddison, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Trafford, Curtis Jones and Jarrell Quansah.

[jrgbfc]

Maguire must be down to injury? Bit surprised about Grealish as well.

[burnleymik]

Trafford, Quansah, Maguire, Jones, Grealish, Maddison left out according to David Ornstein. One more to go… losing Maguire is a blow.

A blow to what!

[equinox]

Maguire AND Branthwaite??