Brazil legend Kaka on England's Euro 2024 chances, 'incredible' Jude Bellingham and why their defence is NOT vulnerable

Good news England fans, It’s Coming Home! Or at least, it could be, as Kaka - one of Brazil's greatest footballing talents - has voiced his support for the Three Lions ahead of their European campaign this summer.

While standing pitch side with Mail Sport for Gatorade’s 5v5 tournament on a sunlit day at Somerset House, Kaka reflected on Gareth Southgate’s squad, emphasising their growth since the Euro 2020 final and hinting that this could be the year they clinch the silverware.

'Gareth's side were in touching distance last time and I think it's coming for them' the former AC Milan man said. 'It's coming for England. There is something really special going on with the national team at the moment. The players are really good and the team is really good. The final against Italy wasn't the result everybody here wanted but the team is more mature now.

'Also, the Premier League is the best league in the world. It has a lot of English players playing in it, but also other players from around the world, so the standard of the Premier League has helped develop a lot of the players in Gareth Southgate's team. So, yeah, I do believe the English team is maturing and it could be their time to win in Germany.'

Despite Kaka's optimism, England's backline has been a major cause for concern among the fans. The omission of Harry Maguire, combined with Luke Shaw's injury and the overall lack of experience in the defence, has created a palpable sense of vulnerability.

Not to mention the fact England's back line has been left exposed more than once due to the forward-thinking nature of their midfield, which boasts the likes of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and more.

However, Kaka, widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced the game, with 44 individual accolades and 10 major club honours, insists there is no cause for concern.

'Personally, I don't think England's backline are vulnerable. I actually think England have very good defenders, very good players across their backline. Also, it's not about a single player or a particular line it's about the contest as a whole. It's about all of the players on the pitch because a defensive system actually starts with the forwards.

'They are responsible for setting the defensive tone and preventing it from getting to a critical point. So, in my opinion, it is more about getting the right balance for the team rather than focusing on one particular line. If you can get that balance, it will increase your chances of winning.'

Balance will be key for Southgate as he looks to avoid the trap that those before him have fallen into.

England's 'Golden Generation,' spanning the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, included some of the most talented footballers in the nation's history. Players like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Ashley Cole formed a squad that was brimming with individual talent.

But, their era was marked by underachievement on the international stage, raising questions about why such a talented group failed to deliver the success expected of them.

One of the primary problems was the difficulty of fitting so many star players into one cohesive team. A problem Southgate could face heading into this summer's tournament.

When asked whether England could fall short of expectations and be labelled the Golden Generation 2.0, Kaka told Mail Sport: 'I think it's good for a coach when you have a problem like that.

'Having that amount of quality and choosing which players to have on the field is not a bad problem at all. But I do think [Southgate] must build the team with different players, different characters, different kind of leaders.

'It's important to have someone that makes everybody happy all the time. His happiness brings the energy, and he will try to do something special on the pitch because of it. It's also important to have a leader that wants the ball every time. For example, when your team is in a difficult situation, he wants the ball. He will be there saying 'hey give me the ball I will try and find a solution'.

'So, inside the squad, you always have a different kind of leaders and there is a place for each of them in the team. The coach just needs to put the pieces together. It's like a puzzle. You need to put everybody together. And when you find the right balance, you increase your chances to win the tournament.'

There's no doubt harmony is the key to success, but there is always one player who garners more attention than the others during a tournament. In recent years, that man has been Harry Kane.

Kane's performance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia cemented his status as one of the world's top strikers. He won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, netting six goals, including a hat-trick against Panama and crucial strikes against Tunisia and Colombia.

He also played a crucial role in leading England to the final of Euro 2020, scoring four goals in the tournament, including key strikes in the knockout stages against Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark.

But, it could be Bellingham who steals the show in Germany, with Kaka tipping him to become England's next breakout star due to his exceptional talent, versatility, and maturity beyond his years.

'England have so many good players. In the past they had great players too', Kaka started. 'Wayne Rooney was one of the best players in history, in my opinion, from this country. Harry Kane of course is one of the best and someone England will look to at the Euros.

'Bellingham is incredible. He is a very, very good player. He's very young but he is very mature on the pitch. He reads the game very well and he doesn't appear to have the nerves you would expect from that age. He will go far and will certainly be fighting for the player of the year this season as well as the Ballon d’Or.'

Expectations are high for Three Lions following their historic run to the Euro 2020 final— England's first major tournament final since their victory over West Germany at the 1966 World Cup.

Falling agonisingly short of claiming the trophy was a bitter pill to swallow for the team and the fans – having experienced the joy of Shaw's early goal and the heartbreak of the penalty shootout defeat.

But, Kaka says England's agony will have taught them everything then need to know in order to be successful this summer. He likened their experience to his own in the 2005 Champions League final, when AC Milan struggled with Liverpool's late surge and ultimately fell short in the penalty shootout.

'The 2005 Champions League final was really hard for me because it was my first final, and the way that we lost that game was horrible. But I took so many lessons from the game that I cannot complain.

'Of course, I wanted to win that game as well, but the lessons that I took from that game made me stronger and made me a better with more hunger to go out and win. So, two years later in 2007, I had the opportunity to be back in the Champions League final and I won it. So, I'm very happy with how it all played our and I actually think the 2005 final was one of the best Champions League finals in history.'

England's pursuit of glory should galvanise the nation this summer, but there is a risk of fans turning against their own if things don't go according to plan. Just look at what happened after the Euro 2020 final.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka - who were all brought on specifically for their penalty-taking abilities and missed - were targeted with racist slurs and hateful messages, reflecting the ugliest aspects of online behaviour.

When asked about the presence of social media as a whole, Kaka advocated for players, especially those in high-profile tournaments like the Euros, to shield themselves from the noise.

According to Kaka, avoiding social media during such critical times can help players maintain focus, protect their mental health, and prevent external pressures from affecting their game.

'I think the players have more pressure because of social media and phone. Those that can avoid going on their phones before the game will be better. I think it's really, really important so you can be more focused because one comment, one bad comment, one bad word, can change your mentality, your confidence, and can change your game as well. So I think it's really important to handle this situation. It's in our hands as players.

'In my period, there wasn't an emphasis on cell phones. I was good back then because we could be more focused on the game and try to play the game in our head already.

'My ritual before a game was to pray and read the Bible. So I had this ritual, read the Bible, make my prayers, and then start the warm-up and think about the game that was my pregame ritual.'

Kaka was speaking to Mail Sport at the Gatorade 5v5 tournament which brings youngsters from all over the world together to play in the country of the host city for the UEFA Champions League Final.