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Football News: England Tipped to End Trophy Drought at Euro 2024
England have been backed to finally end their trophy drought and clinch their first major title in 58 years at the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. This is the view of 2014 World Cup winner Per Mertesacker, who has praised the resilience of the Three Lions despite their unimpressive displays so far.
The Three Lions have yet to hit top form at the European Championship, but have managed to advance through to the semi-finals, where they will face the Netherlands on Wednesday night in a match that will be live on talkSPORT.
Dramatic late equalisers in the knockout matches against Slovakia and Switzerland have ensured England have reached back-to-back semi-finals in the Euros for the first time in their history. Despite ongoing skepticism from fans about their chances, Arsenal cult hero Mertesacker has tipped Gareth Southgate’s men to go all the way.
“Yeah, they understand big moments.” – Per Mertesacker
Mertesacker emphasized that while the style of play may concern onlookers, England have shown the ability to deliver in crucial moments, citing the overhead kick equalizer by Jude Bellingham against Slovakia and the world-class strike by Bukayo Saka to level the game against Switzerland.
The former Arsenal defender believes that for England to stand a chance of glory, captain Harry Kane must lead the press, with his teammates following suit. Mertesacker stressed the need for better coordination in the team’s pressing efforts, which he believes were lacking in previous matches.
As for Kane, Mertesacker believes the striker should be the one spearheading the press, with players like Bellingham, Phil Foden, and the high-pressing wing-backs Bukayo Saka and Kieran Trippier supporting him. The ex-Germany international is confident that the Three Lions can go all the way, citing the experience gained from their run to the Euro 2020 final three years ago.
“The trust of Gareth Southgate in his players to deliver in big moments, that’s been really impressive for me,” Mertesacker concluded, suggesting that the team’s togetherness and the manager’s belief in them could be the key to England’s success at Euro 2024.
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