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5 months ago
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Is this the year? Will football come home? England head into Euro 2024 as favourites with the bookies and expectations at an all-time high, which always ends well...
Gareth Southgate will know that if the Three Lions aren't the side lifting the trophy on July 14, he'll probably be out of a job.
The youthful promise of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham has morphed into genuine world-leading ability and there's an embarrassment of riches in attack.
In defence, it could be more shaky, with left-back a particular area of concern. Serbia and Denmark could pose a threat in the group stage, while Slovenia are the other side making up England's preliminary phase.
Will England have learned from the heartbreaking Wembley defeat on penalties four years ago, or the quarter-final pain of losing to France in Qatar in 2022?
Here's everything you need to know about England, including how they qualified for the tournament, their history in the competition and who to look out for.
England enter Euro 2024 as betting favourites and have the weight of expectation
Who is the manager?
Gareth Southgate (2016-present)
How England fare this summer is likely to dictate how the manager's tenure is remembered.
If his side fall short, he'll be the nearly man who helped England fans believe again but ultimately could not hack it against the very best.
Achieve a first tournament win since 1966 and they'll be getting to work on a statue immediately.
Having been criticised in the past for keeping the shackles on and erring on the side of caution and pragmatism, it will be fascinating to see if he allows a more attacking approach from his men this time around.
Keeping a lid on expectations will be almost impossible, that horse has bolted, so a huge part of his job this summer will be keeping the players in the right mental head space.
Gareth Southgate (centre, at the FA Cup final) knows it is boom or bust for him this summer
Who is their star man?
Jude Bellingham (29 games, three goals)
You can argue that Harry Kane is England's most important player and the team need him to be firing on all cylinders to have any chance of winning.
But Kane has spearheaded the team at big tournaments before and the difference-maker this time around, to help England go a step further, is surely Bellingham.
The 20-year-old - it is absurd that he's still only 20 - has put Real Madrid on his shoulders this season and exceeded the high expectations he arrived with after joining for £88.5m.
Jude Bellingham has proven this season he can thrive under massive pressure at Real Madrid
He's operated further up the pitch under Carlo Ancelotti than Southgate has played him and looked unstoppable, coming up with decisive moments in two Clasicos.
Southgate could keep him in a two with Declan Rice slightly deeper but if England lack a spark, the calls will grow louder for him to move up the pitch.
Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka have had brilliant seasons and could easily stand up to be the star man for England, but Bellingham looks the more likely to dominate the tournament this summer.
How did they qualify?
A 2-1 win away in Naples set the tone for the qualifying campaign and England backed that up with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine.
Routine wins over Malta and North Macedonia followed before the first blip, a 1-1 draw in Wroclaw, Poland against Ukraine.
It was back on track with a 3-1 win over Italy at Wembley, confirming qualification with another three points against Malta before a flat 1-1 draw at home against North Macedonia to end the campaign. England finished top of the group on 20 points ahead of Italy on 14.
Harry Kane scores in the 3-1 home win over Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying last October
Fixtures (all UK time)
England vs Serbia, Sunday June 16, 8pm at Veltins-Arena
England vs Denmark, Thursday June 20, 5pm at Deutsche Bank Park
England vs Slovenia, Tuesday June 25, 8pm at RheinEnergieStadion
Tournament history
2020 - Final (lost to Italy on penalties)
2016 - Round of 16
2012 - Quarter-finals
2004 - Quarter-finals
2000 - Group stage
1996 - Semi-finals
Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish and Luke Shaw look dejected after England's 2020 final defeat
1992 - Group stage
1998 - Group stage
1980 - Group stage
1972 - Quarter-finals
1968 - Third-place play-off
Odds to win the trophy
3/1 with Sky Bet (favourites)
Provisional squad (33 players)
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Harry Maguire is likely to be trusted in the heart of defence despite his lack of game time
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
English (US)