It would be ironic if this were the year England won its first European Championship. England has been at odds with the continent over Brexit, and that will add a layer of intrigue to their run in this competition. The Three Lions boast one of their best teams ever, and they have been installed as one of the favorites on the eve of Euro 2020. England made it to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in their first international competition under Gareth Southgate, so expectations are high coming into this summer.
EURO 2020 Group D Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
England -235
Croatia +305
Czech Republic +1000
Scotland +1500
There is a lot to like about England coming into this tournament. The English will get to host all three of their Group Stage matches in London, putting their opponents at a disadvantage.
The Three Lions are also the most talented team in this group. England has excellent options at every position, as Jordan Pickford’s play in the last World Cup answered any goalkeeping doubts.
Harry Maguire is the lynchpin of the back line. The Manchester United star is everything you want in a center back. He is big and physical enough to handle the aerial attack, and he is nimble enough to keep people from running past him. Kyle Walker and John Stones play together at Manchester City, so they have a built-in chemistry, and Maguire will have that in Luke Shaw if he gets the start.
We saw Mason Mount shine in the Champions League Final for Chelsea, and the 22-year-old is ready to put together an even stronger performance for his national team. Jordan Henderson is perennially underrated in midfield, and teenage sensation Jude Bellingham is a star in the making.
This might be the best collection of forwards in Europe. Captain Harry Kane has been unstoppable with 34 goals in 53 appearances, and Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are speedy forwards that can finish with aplomb. Phil Foden is starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and Jadon Sancho could factor too.
Croatia shocked the world by knocking off England to make it to the finals of the 2018 World Cup. They were unable to get past France in the final, but Luka Modric proved he was one of his generation’s greatest players.
This will probably be Modric’s last Euros. He will turn 36 in December, and he has played 137 games for the national team. Modric has brought this country to the precipice, and he is already a national hero.
Ivan Perisic doesn’t have much left in the tank either. Perisic is Croatia’s active leading goal scorer with 28 tallies, but he is now 32. Perisic has continued to play at a high level though, and he will be a great mentor for Ante Rebic and Josip Brekalo.
The Czech Republic made it to the finals of the 1996 Euros and the semifinals of the 2004 Euros. They haven’t had much success in international tournament since that point though.
There is some reason to be optimistic despite long-time goalkeeper Petr Cech’s retirement from international play. Patrik Schick has the potential to thrive in the No. 9 role, and Tomas Soucek is a solid set-up man in the midfield. Captain Vladimir Darida is a quality two-way midfielder, and Antonin Barak might bag a goal or two.
Scotland will be making its first trip to the Euros since 1996 this summer. The Scots have never been able to make it to the knockout rounds of any international tournament, but they are hoping this is their first time. Scott McTominay and Andrew Robertson are the leaders of this team.
Prediction
England will get a little revenge on Croatia for the World Cup loss and win Group D by a comfortable margin.
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