England’s quest to finish 55 years of damage with out successful a significant event begins in Group D with the possibility to achieve revenge on Croatia for World Cup heartbreak and a much-anticipated conflict with neighbours Scotland. AFP Sport casts its eye over the 4 groups making an attempt to succeed in the knockout stage.
England
Rarely has an England supervisor been so spoiled for expertise than Gareth Southgate with the squad he has at his disposal.
Captain Harry Kane shall be aiming for an additional Golden Boot after ending prime scorer on the 2018 World Cup and the Premier League this season, however will ably assisted by the likes of Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount.
England will even have house benefit for all three group video games at Wembley and will play their final 16 tie, semi-final and closing at house in the event that they progress that far.
Central defence is the one space the place Southgate just isn’t blessed with a wealth of choices and an ankle ligament harm to Harry Maguire might show expensive if the Manchester United captain just isn’t match to associate John Stones on the again.
Southgate was praised for an sudden run to the semi-finals on the World Cup three years in the past, however the calls for are far greater this time spherical.
Player to look at: Phil Foden
At simply 21, Foden already has three Premier League titles to his title at Manchester City. This season was his breakthrough into being considered one of Pep Guardiola’s most vital gamers at membership stage, taking his worldwide teammate Sterling’s place for the most important video games.
A disciplinary incident when he was despatched house from breaking coronavirus guidelines in Iceland whereas on worldwide obligation for a Nations League sport has up to now disrupted his worldwide profession, however there’s a clamour for Southgate to start out Foden within the sport towards Croatia on June 13.
Scotland
Scotland have made it to a primary worldwide event in 23 years the onerous method, successful penalty shootouts in Nations League playoffs towards Israel and Serbia.
Despite a troublesome draw, there’s a quiet confidence {that a} aspect boasting a robust core of confirmed Premier League performers in Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong might pull off a shock by making it via the group stage for the primary time ever.
Much will depend upon the house video games towards the Czech Republic and Croatia with the backing of 12,000 followers at a Hampden decreased from capability due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Player to look at: John McGinn
In the absence of a confirmed worldwide striker, McGinn has grow to be Clarke’s most dependable supply of targets with 9 targets in his final 14 appearances for his nation.
Croatia
The 2018 World Cup finalists are with out a number of the key figures from their heroics in Russia with Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic now retired from worldwide soccer.
At 35, Luka Modric stays important to his nation’s fortunes however there shall be issues over how a lot the playmaker has left within the tank after 48 video games for Real Madrid this season.
Two disappointing Nations League campaigns have sparked fears this can be a Croatia crew in transition, however they usually save their greatest for the large event on the worldwide stage.
Player to look at: Luka Modric
Modric gained the Ballon d’Or on the again of his performances in Russia three years in the past and his nation want him to hit these heights once more if he’s to hold a much less gifted squad into the latter levels.
Despite his advancing years, Modric was rewarded with a brand new contract on the Bernabeu final month after a season through which he confirmed no signal of his age.
Czech Republic
The Czechs inflicted England’s first defeat in a qualifier for 10 years in October 2019 and are a drive to be reckoned with once more below Jaroslav Silhavy.
West Ham duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have shone within the Premier League this season, whereas a core of the Slavia Prague aspect that reached the Europa League quarter-finals type the spine of the aspect.
Player to look at: Tomas Soucek
Soucek scored 10 targets in his first full season with the Hammers to grow to be probably the most potent threats within the Premier League from midfield. At 6ft 4in (1.92m) he is a continuing menace from set-pieces and scored a hat-trick in a latest World Cup qualifier towards Estonia.
Group D Fixtures (all instances IST)
June 13, Sunday – England v Croatia (6.30pm, London)
June 14, Monday – Scotland v Czech Republic (6.30pm, Glasgow)
June 18, Friday – Croatia v Czech Republic (9.30pm, Glasgow)
June 19, Saturday – England v Scotland (12.30am, London)
June 23, Wednesday – Scotland v Croatia (12.30am, Glasgow)
June 23, Wednesday – England vs Czech Republic (12.30am, London)
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