As the dust settles on a thrilling week of international football, we at InterBet take a look at how the week’s qualification games have affected the outright odds to win next summer’s Euro 2020 tournament.
England made the rest of Europe stand up and take notice in their two qualifiers, causing their outright odds to tumble. Gareth Southgate’s youthful side won both games, scoring ten and conceding just once. The result of which has been an influx of bets on them lifting the European Championship title at Wembley Stadium next year.
But, with respect to the Czech Republic and Montenegro, it will take more than two convincing qualification wins to make England serious Euro 2020 challengers. So, what is causing such excitement around the Three Lions’ chances?
England were surprise semi-finalists at last summer’s FIFA World Cup but such is the progress being made under Gareth Southgate, another last-four finish in Euro 2020 will be considered a failure by many.
The Premier League could be on the verge of suddenly becoming the dominant league in Europe once again with all of the so-called ‘Big Six’ through to the last eight of their respective European competitions. Whilst Europe, especially the German Bundesliga, now seems packed with young English talent.
Each of the Big Six include a handful of young, talented English players which is testament to the job being done right throughout the international set-up. England will go into the summer as reigning world champions at both under-17 and under-20 level.
A proven goal scorer
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup and is crucial to England’s chances of a first ever European Championship success. Thanks partly to his World Cup endeavours, Kane has struggled with injuries so far in the 2018/19 campaign but remains in contention for the Premier League Golden Boot. The Spurs forward has amassed a total of 17 goals in Premier League games; just two shy of the league’s leading scorer, Sergio Aguero.
Kane has now scored in three consecutive games for England to move onto 22 goals in just 35 international appearances. Having already moved up to joint-16th on England’s all-time list, Kane will have his sights set on Wayne Rooney’s record 53-goal haul.
Now one of the elder statesmen in the England set-up, Kane’s influence on and off the field will prove vital to the uber-talented group of youngsters currently forcing their way into the senior team.
Strength in depth
Alongside Kane in attack, Raheem Sterling is currently in the form of his life and Marcus Rashford looks back to his best under Manchester United caretaker boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Although established forwards such as Rooney, Jamie Vardy and Jermain Defoe have now departed the international scene, England have a wealth of attacking options to choose from. Callum Wilson has won a couple of senior caps on the back of his most prolific season for Bournemouth to date.
Meanwhile, several of England’s under-17 World Cup winners are already making their mark with the seniors. Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi will hopefully have a full season of top-class football behind them by the time next summer comes around. Whilst there seems an endless list of attacking talent waiting in the wings.
In midfield, there is arguably even greater strength in depth. Fellow under-17 World Cup winner, Phil Foden, is expected to break into the Manchester City first team over the next 18 months and would inevitably come into contention for a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad. Foden could rival established England first teamers such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jesse Lingard, Adam Lallana and Ross Barkley for the number ten shirt.
Leicester City duo, James Maddison and Demarai Gray have received recent call-ups to the senior squad whilst Mason Mount and Lewis Cook also have a great outside chance of making Southgate’s final squad.
In a more defensive midfield role, Declan Rice has been drafted in having switched allegiance from the Republic of Ireland. He will add extra competition for places along with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph and Harry Winks.
At the back Southgate has an abundance of talent. In fact, he seems to have three or four players in each position right at the top of their game. At right back, Southgate can call upon Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold whilst on the left-hand side there’s Danny Rose, Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw.
John Stones and Harry Maguire are now firmly established as England’s first-choice central defensive pair but England also seem to have an embarrassment of riches here. Joe Gomez heads a list of back-up central defenders that also includes Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Lewis Dunk.
Pickford form
One cause for concern could be the form of Jordan Pickford. England fans will watch Everton with great interest over the next 18 months. Pickford was one of England’s best-performing players at last summer’s World Cup but his form for Everton this season has been patchy at best. With Jack Butland, Tom Heaton and Nick Pope all able deputies and youngsters such as Angus Gunn and Freddie Woodman waiting in the wings, it will be interesting to see how long Southgate keeps his faith in Pickford if his form doesn’t improve.
What next for England?
Next up for the Three Lions after this week’s impressive wins over the Czech Republic and Montenegro is the summer’s UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Due to their fine recent qualification results and performances England have been backed in to clear second favourites to win the Euro 2020 tournament outright.
With the final being held at Wembley Stadium and a seemingly endless conveyor belt of young talent, InterBet’s current odds of 5/1 on an England Euro 2020 triumph could prove tremendous value for money.
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