Football News: England Tipped as Contenders for Euro 2024 Glory
In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament, Spain legend Gerard Pique has expressed his belief that England are in with a genuine chance of winning the coveted European Championship trophy.
The former Manchester United and Barcelona defender, who lifted the European Championship with Spain in 2012, shared his insights on the upcoming tournament during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT while in Mexico City for his seven-a-side King League World Cup event.
When asked about England’s prospects, Pique was emphatic in his assessment, stating, “> I would say so, yeah. He’s a great player.”
The Spaniard was referring to Jude Bellingham, the dynamic young midfielder who has become a key figure in Gareth Southgate’s England setup. Pique praised Bellingham’s impressive performance during his debut season at Real Madrid, where he made 41 appearances and contributed 35 goal involvements. The 2010 World Cup winner believes Bellingham’s talent and experience at such a young age could be the key to England’s success this summer.
Beyond Bellingham, England’s star-studded squad boasts other notable names, including Bayern Munich and former Tottenham striker Harry Kane, as well as Chelsea’s Premier League golden boot runner-up, Cole Palmer, who found the net 22 times this season.
While Pique acknowledges that France may be the bookmakers’ favourites, he believes England are firmly in contention to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. “> Why not!” he exclaimed. “I think that France are maybe the favourites this year. But England are [up] there!”
With the Euro 2024 tournament set to kick off in Germany later this year, football fans across the globe will be eagerly anticipating England’s quest for European glory. As the Three Lions aim to go one step further than their heartbreaking defeat in the Euro 2021 final, the backing of a Spanish legend like Gerard Pique will no doubt provide an added boost of confidence.
๐ Source