Euro 2024 – A great result for the Toon! | OneFootball

Happy days, as Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon appear to be heading home unscathed from the 2024 European Championships, fit and ready to go for the new season (no doubt after a well-earned break, even though a short one).

As for England?

Same old story…. almost, but not quite.

Probably England’s best chance of winning a tournament, with possibly the best crop of youngsters for some time having the capability, as seen at their respective clubs, to win it. If they could only have had more playing time…

As the England starting eleven against Spain popped up on screen, my first thoughts were, if you can’t play well with the same or very similar 11 players in previous rounds, you aren’t going to beat Spain in a tournament final.

Sky Sports News reported this Monday morning that Harry Kane was not fit (had a back injury at the end of last season), Bellingham not at his best and seemed to wilt away in the last third of the season. Luke Shaw, not fully fit, yet they all get to play regardless.

No wonder Kane couldn’t/wouldn’t run for balls, tackle with any intent, challenge for aerial balls, and had zero pace!

Any players at club level with injuries or not playing to their potential would no doubt be dropped, with others given the chance to play, but not in Southgate’s team.

Anthony Gordon, and not just because he’s our player, won player of the tournament 12 months ago at the Under-21 European Championships, where in the final England beat… SPAIN!

You couldn’t script it!

Watkins had a great season with Villa as did Cole Palmer at Chelsea. I’m not so sure about Gallagher being ready quite yet for the England step-up though.

Remember Rooney at 17 years and 317 days?

Rashford on England debut in May 2016 became the youngest English player to score in his first senior international match.

Walcott, 17 years and 75 days the youngest ever senior player.

Owen, 19 years old in the 1998 World Cup, scored v Argentina in which he ran from the halfway line and was the only player to have scored in four consecutive major tournaments for England. Remember his 54-minute hat-trick v Germany at 21 years old?

To carry and play players who are unfit and/or not at their best when you have a great selection of young players chomping at the bit to show their skills, I find hard to comprehend.

Time for the old guard to step aside and bring on the youngsters… like Spain… and win!

We all claim to be the best armchair managers, which is great for opinions and debate, but surely I’m not the only one to recognise the issues.