The TV presenter and journalist on the Three Lions and the Red Devils
OPINION
When Euro 2024 qualification began in March, England were in the spotlight for the first time since their heartbreak in Qatar. Despite World Cup agony, Gareth Southgate decided to continue as England’s head coach and, after the opening two qualifiers, it’s looking like a good decision.
A win in Italy followed by a home victory against Ukraine has the Three Lions topping Group C following two of the toughest fixtures they’ll play on the road to Germany, as they now prepare for meetings with Malta and North Macedonia in June.
That 2-1 win against Italy felt significant. It was England’s first competitive success against the Italians in 45 years, and their first time beating the Azzurri in Italy since 1961. Harry Kane also made history by becoming England’s leading goalscorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s previous record – a proud moment for him and the nation.
Aside from the milestones, the manner of victory showed a side to this England team that’ll be needed at major tournaments. We have become accustomed to England letting leads slip, and that all-too-familiar feeling returned at 2-0 up following an excellent first half in Naples. A loss of control early in the second half, conceding a goal, and Luke Shaw’s sending-off left England anxiously clinging on for the final 10 minutes.
Those fragile spells have cost us in the past, but on this occasion Southgate’s men managed to show a different side. They dug in and held on for a valuable victory against the European champions. Italy didn’t even manage a shot on target after England went down to 10 men. It was a big win which they backed up with a comfortable victory against Ukraine at an emotional Wembley a few days later: six points from six available, but just as important is the growing belief that this team is capable of beating the top sides.
Games against Malta and North Macedonia should see England further stamp their dominance on the group, while also giving Southgate the chance to experiment and work out a few conundrums. In the forward line of his preferred 4-3-3 system, Kane and Bukayo Saka are shoo-ins, but he has a headache on the left and we could see opportunities for any or all of Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling in that position.
Elsewhere, Harry Maguire has been an automatic starter for Southgate but is sometimes fifth-choice centre-half for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Now could be the time to see some other options at the back – perhaps Fikayo Tomori, after another decent sea
