Qualification is not REAL success for the Three Lions

So well done to England they have qualified for Euro 2020 – credit where credits due. It was the 7-0 thrashing of a, lets be honest, a not fit for purpose Montenegro team that was the key result, but you can only beat what is put in front of you and they duly did the requisite job and some. A routine 0-4 victory against Kosovo followed, which was a dead rubber for both in regards to qualification from the group, but does secure England as a top seed at the tournament. Let’s be honest though, qualification is the bare minimum standard for this team, it is all about what happens next. And everything that has gone on beforehand needs to be parked  before the real stuff begins next June, especially as you cannot predict who will be available come the start of the Championships, but that won’t excuse a poor showing in the competition.

HARSH BUT FAIR?

Whilst Gareth ‘GS’ Southgate has undoubtedly done a fantastic job with the current England squad, making them into a young, fast, dynamic team playing very easy on the eye football that has made the rest of Europe take note – especially with their capacity to scores goals, 37 in qualification. Some people would say that this may well be the best team, in regards of potential, that the English have had since the glory year of 1966. However being brutally honest what has actually been achieved? His sides have lost in a World Cup semi-final and also in their Nations League last four play-off. Yes he has improved the team but even he would admit that is not enough for him to really stand out from his predecessors since Alf Ramsey. No doubt the atmosphere and environment, which he has created, has been a catalyst, but Southgate knows he needs to actually do something tangible whilst manager, repeating previous coaches feats will not suffice in my opinion.

SOMETHING NEW PLEASE

Next summer is essentially a home tournament for England. They will play at Wembley in all 3 of their group games and both the semi-finals and the final will also be played at the famous stadium. What an incentive for this team to push on for glory and anything less than getting to the final four will be seen as failure anyway.  Now sometimes you can be unfortunate in the latter stages of big competitions but in my opinion this English side need to be making a final. Plenty have lauded the current crop of players, but they need to actually achieve something that no other England side has in recent times especially with the favourable tournament conditions. Imagine the opportunity to play in the key match to actually win the competition, which will be a new high and a novelty for a generation and more of Three Lions fans, with the ultimate goal being to lift the trophy on home soil in July 2020. The planning starts now.

Let me know what you think

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