If England are to win Euro 2020, who will be the star men?

admin

England expects this summer. Quite what it is, specifically, that England expects isn’t really known at this stage, but they do.

So, if England are to have a productive summer and come out of Euro 2020 with some credit, which players are most likely to be the key men?

The dead-cert: Harry Kane

Harry Kane must be an absolute dream for any manager, simply because there is nothing spectacular about him other than his record.

He does not blow you away with pace, or athleticism, or silky skills, but that means he doesn’t rely on them either.

He simply scores goals – relentlessly and unfailingly.

Kane’s temperament is one of his biggest assets, and he will need to draw on that this summer with his club future uncertain.

The 27-year-old has made it clear he would like to leave Tottenham in pursuit of trophies, and that means there will be extra scrutiny on his performances for England.

However, the Euro 2020 odds suggest Kane will deliver for England again, and it’s hard to expect anything different.

The ace-in the pack: Phil Foden

England have never lacked good players. That has never been the problem. If you are going to win a major tournament, though, what you need is something special.

Step forward Phil Foden.

Foden has been consistently growing in stature at Manchester City in the last few years, and now at 21-years-old he has become an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s team.

Indeed, back in 2019 Guardiola said of Foden: Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager.’

That is, of course, the same Guardiola that worked with Lionel Messi at a similar age.

Obviously no one is expecting Messi-level performances from Foden, but if England need something a little bit special, he will be the man most likely to provide it.

The bedrock: John Stones

Harry Maguire, John Stones and Jordan Henderson

A disclaimer, if I may, before you read on here. If not for injury, this one would have gone to Harry Maguire.

However, with the Manchester United man battling injury and in danger of missing the group stage, England need someone else to step up and be the defensive bedrock of the Euros campaign.

It’s certainly not unreasonable to expect that man to be John Stones, too.

He is no longer a raw and inexperienced luxury in defence. Stones is now 27 years-old, a three-time Premier League winner, and is fast approaching 50 caps for his country.

Is John Stones a world class defender? Absolutely not. But in Maguire’s likely absence he is the best that England have got, and they are going to need him to rise to the responsibility.

The water-carrier: Jordan Henderson

Once upon a time, ‘water-carrier’ might have been regarded as something of an insult, but that was before Didier Deschamps.

‘Water-carrier’ was a nickname given to the French captain by Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, and it was absolutely intended as an insult.

“Deschamps gets by because he always gives 100 per cent, but he will never be anything more than a water carrier. You can find players like him on every street corner,” Cantona said in 1996.

Liverpool F365
Henderson Liverpool

However, the midfielder went on to captain France to a World Cup win, a European Champions win, and two Champions League titles with Juventus, and he was vital to all of them.

Essentially a ‘water-carrier’ now simply means a midfield player who wins the ball and distributes it to the more creative players around him. Deschamps was a master. Jordan Henderson is too.

Granted, Henderson isn’t as physical in the tackle and other midfield enforcers, but what he is is absolutely relentless and it’s something that will be vital to England, just as it has been for Liverpool.

The dark-horse: Jack Grealish

There is no lack of Champions League stars in Gareth Southgate’s squad, and so you could probably be forgiven for overlooking the potential influence of Grealish this summer.

While the likes of Foden and Mason Mount were contesting the Champions League final, Grealish was helping Aston Villa to 11th place the Premier League. So, at first glance, he is probably not one that fans would be expecting too much of.

That said, you get a sense that Grealish could be a hugely influential player for England this summer. He has that rare maverick quality that makes him difficult to contain, and he is someone who can ghost past a couple of opposition players in a flash.

Grealish was also the most-fouled player in the Premier League last season, and that ability to win free-kicks could be crucial to England when they inevitably come under pressure at the Euros.