BEING an England fan is cool again – with the Three Lions finally relevant again in the eyes of the world’s best teams. After years of struggling with a squad of seasoned veterans, optimism surrounding our national team is at an all-time high thanks to the latest crop of talented youngsters. After thumping Czech Republic […]
BEING an England fan is cool again – with the Three Lions finally relevant again in the eyes of the world’s best teams.
After years of struggling with a squad of seasoned veterans, optimism surrounding our national team is at an all-time high thanks to the latest crop of talented youngsters.
After thumping Czech Republic 5-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifying game, England are suddenly looking to the tournament itself with real optimism.
But as we edge towards next summer’s competition, who’s most likely to be challenging – and who’s set for another summer of woe?
We take a look at the five teams who are hot and the five who are not, below…
THAT’S right, England are hot right now.
Gareth Southgate has brought back the feel-good factor – and both fans are players are loving being a part of the national set-up.
After reaching the World Cup semi-finals last summer, the Three Lions have reached the Uefa Nations League finals and stuck five past arguably their toughest Euro 2020 qualifying opponents.
After decades of ironically blasting out “it’s coming home”, could it finally actually be?
ENGLAND’S stock might be high right now, but don’t forget Belgium beat them twice at the World Cup to finish in third place.
They missed out on the Nations League finals on goal difference at the hands of Switzerland – as they both won three of their four games.
With a super-talented squad including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, they’re set to be a major threat.
ANOTHER Nations League finalist, Holland actually lost their most recent Euro 2020 qualifying game to Germany.
The Dutch slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home – after thumping Belarus 4-0 – but boast an array of talent including Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
Holland will face England this summer in the Nations League semi – and you wouldn’t put it past either side reaching the same stage next summer.
THEY pipped Belgium to a spot in this summer’s Nations League last-four and are truly a nation on the rise.
With talented players like Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri on the books, they’ll always be a tricky side.
A typically gritty 2-0 win over Georgia saw them get off to a strong start in their Euro 2020 qualifying group.
They’re a tough side to break down with their team-first style – and could spring a surprise next summer.
OUR fourth and final Nations League finalists, Portugal will be hoping to replicate their Euro 2016 success.
The unfancied Portuguese stunned hosts France to clinch the title – but slipped to a 2-1 defeat in their World Cup 2018 last-16 clash against Uruguay.
So long as the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the line, they’ll be a threat to any team.
THE Germans may have got off to a strong start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, beating Holland.
But in truth, for now at least, they appear to be a fading force.
Leroy Sane has been reinstated in the squad after ridiculously being dropped for the World Cup.
Ageing stars Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng have been told they have now future with the Germany team by boss Joachim Low.
Having won the World Cup in 2014, Germany crashed out in the group stage last summer, losing to Mexico and South Korea, while edging past Sweden.
It was the ultimate humiliation for the Germans – who just four years earlier had thumped Brazil 7-1 in their own back garden.
Next summer will almost certainly come around too soon for them to bounce back. They’ll qualify for the tournament, but it’s hard to see them making an impact.
ANOTHER recent world champion team, another fading force.
Italy won their opening clash 2-0 against Finland, but they have been dreary to watch in recent months.
After failing to qualify for the World Cup last summer, the Italians have since racked up scorelines of 1-1, 0-1, 1-1, 1-0, 0-0 and 1-0, before their Finland.
In decades gone by, you would look at their squad and gulp with fear as the likes of Paolo Maldini and Andrea Pirlo on the team-sheet.
These days, the fear surrounding Italy has disappeared.
Fortunately, they have a simple group to qualify for next summer’s tournament, but without a major squad shake-up, Italy look set for a group stage exit.
THEY may have won their opening Euro 2020 qualifier – but in truth it was an underwhelming 2-1 win at home to Norway.
At times recently, Spain have been unparalleled – beating Croatia 6-0 in September, before thumping Wales 4-1 a month later.
But losses since then to Croatia and England have proven they aren’t the force they used to be.
Spain were dumped out by hosts Russia in the last-16 of last summer’s World Cup.
The unbeatable-looking side of ten years ago has long gone, with many of those stars now retired.
Make no mistake, no team will fancy drawing them in 2020, but they’re not the terrifying prospect of yesteryear.
WORLD CUP finalists, conquerors of England and the home of Ballon d’Or holder Luka Modric.
How are they in the “not” list, you might ask.
Well, two games into their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and Croatia have edged past minnows Azerbaijan 2-1 and lost to Hungary by the same scoreline.
The Croatians also finished bottom of England and Spain’s group in the Nations League, winning just one of their four games, shipping ten goals in the process.
How quickly the mighty can fall…
NEVER a giant of European football, but Iceland have proved to be the thorn in the side of a host of teams over the year.
Remember, they knocked England out of Euro 2016 – arguably the best thing that happened to the Three Lions as it forced a major shake-up.
The Icelandic squad then drew with Argentina at the World Cup, but lost to Nigeria and were edged out by finalists Croatia.
Since then, Iceland have lost all four of their Nations League games to Belgium and Switzerland.
A 2-0 win over Andorra got them somewhat back on track – but next up comes world champions France.
With Turkey and Albania also in their qualifying group, Iceland may not even make it to next summer’s tournament at all…
