Euro Group C 2024 Germany

Euro 2024 Group C

GROUP C

Group C venues are Cologne, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Munich and Stuttgart.

Tournament favourites England are the stand-out team, with Denmark out for revenge for the Euro 2020 semi-final, while two former Yugoslav nations are vying for the Round of 16 too.

Slovenia Denmark Serbia England

Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
England 3 1 2 0 2 1 5
Denmark 3 0 3 0 2 2 3
Slovenia 3 0 3 0 2 2 3
Serbia 3 0 2 1 1 2 2

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Slovenia

Fixtures

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Slovenia Kit 1
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Slovenia Kit 2
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Slovenia Kit 3
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Slovenia v Denmark, 16th June, Stuttgart Arena, Stuttgart
Slovenia v Serbia, 20th June, Munich Football Arena, Munich
Slovenia v England, 25th June, Cologne Stadium, Cologne

Coach

Matjaž Kek The 62-year-old is national team manager for the second time, reappointed more than ten years after his first spell, which saw Slovenia's second appearance at the World Cup final at South Africa 2010. He has now guided his country to their second Euro finals to cement his place in his nation's football annals. Popular with players and fans, Kek stresses self-belief and confidence above formation or tactics.

Record

2000 - Group stage.

FIFA Ranking (57th) in the world, 27th in UEFA

Men to watch

Benjamin Šeško - The RB Leipzig striker is the most valuable Slovenian footballer, having netted 11 in 28 games for the national team including five in nine Euro qualifiers. Although a towering 6' 5”, his speed, close control and two-footed finishing are his key weapons.

Adam Čerin - The Panathinaikos midfielder is the side's fulcrum, a box-to-box runner linking defence and attack, often feeding club colleague Andraz Sporar ahead of him. He was the only ever-present in qualifying and scored the winner against Portugal in March, charging upfield to finish.

Jan Oblak - Arguably the greatest Slovenian footballer of all time, he has been Atletico Madrid's custodian for a decade and at 31 still has some seasons left at the top. His honours include winning the Europa League, La Liga and the Portuguese league and cup.

Predictions & Latest Odds

Slovenia are the weakest team in the group and will need to overachieve to reach the Round of 16. Most bookies rate them at 500/1 to win Euro 2024, 20th of the 24 qualifiers.

How they qualified

Slovenia finished equal on points with Denmark in Group H but second on head-to-head results.

On the sidelines

Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovric has a hamstring pull but is expected back by early June.

Formation

4-4-2

Slovenian fans, Stuttgart.
Slovenian fans in Stuttgart for their first game in Group C

Analysis

With a population of 2 million, Slovenia is the smallest nation to qualify for Euro 2024 and football is far from a dominant in the country which loves basketball, cycling, handball and winter sports amongst others.

On that basis, the bookies' rating of 500/1 sounds about right. They had begun World Cup 2022 qualification impressively by beating Croatia but missed out on the finals in the end by a good eight points, only winning away in Cyprus.

Slovenia won their Euro 2024 qualification group on goal difference, but Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino were weak opponents and they lost in Denmark and in Finland, which does not suggest they will ruffle any feathers in Germany.

They must have chuckled when the draw threw them into another clash with the Danes in their opening finals match, having finished equal on points with them in the qualifiers. Slovenia drew 1-1 with them in Ljubljana but lost 2-1 in Copenhagen, which suggests a close scrap in Stuttgart on the 16th of June.

Their other two group games also have history: Serbia and Slovenia were part of the same country until 1992 and in the form of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia & Montenegro played a memorable 3-3 draw with Slovenia at Euro 2000.

More recently, the pair clashed in the 2022 Nations League, drawing 2-2 in Ljubljana after Serbia had won 4-1 in Belgrade.

Lastly, they will play England, who edged a Kek-coached Slovenia 1-0 to knock them out of the 2010 World Cup. Despite their desire for revenge, it is hard to see the Slovenes winning that one.

That said, 2024's three friendlies do not suggest Slovenia will be whipping boys in Germany. A 1-0 win away to the United States was followed by a 2-2 draw away to Malta and then a 2-0 home win over Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo et al. In that match, Slovenia scored on the counter with well-honed combinations, which may be a hint of their Euro 2024 tactics.

Star players do not roll off the tongue. Beyond the goalkeeper and the centre forward none of the first team play at top clubs, although those two are arguably the most important positions on the field, but an overall lack of squad experience will probably tell.

They can be reassured at least by having one of the world's best goalkeepers in Jan Oblak between the sticks but the confidence begins to dissipate when you look at the defenders ahead of him: Centre backs Jaka Bijol of Udinese and Miha Blažič of Lech Poznań and at full back Celje's Žan Karničnik and Górnik Zabrze's Erik Janža.

Midfield gives a bit more hope with the engine of Panathinaikos' Adam Čerin taking the ball forward to feed Šeško and Sporar up front or the Sampdoria right winger Petar Stojanovic.

The Euro finals are a step up in quality and if we are looking for pointers, the only decent nations Slovenia have played competitively in the last couple of years have been Denmark and Sweden, which produced two draws and two losses.

Like all underdogs and small nations, they will begin full of hope and togetherness and they have a well-liked coach. A repeat of star player Zlatko Zahovič being sent home after their World Cup opener following a row with the manager is unlikely as this squad seems quite united.

Slovenia will not win Euro 2024 but may sneak into the Round of 16 as a third-placed team. They will be sure to get some admiring glances from the watching UEFA President, the Ljubljana-born Aleksander Čeferin, a badge of pride for this little European nation.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Vid Belec (APOEL), Igor Vekic (Vejle), Matevž Vidovšek (Olimpija Ljubljana).
Defenders: Jaka Bijol (Udinese), Miha Blazic (Lech Poznan), Jure Balkovec (Alanyaspor), Zan Karnicnik (Celje), David Brekalo (Orlando City), Erik Janza (Gornik Zabrze), Vanja Drkusic (Sochi), Zan Zaletel (Viborg).
Midfielders: Timi Max Elsnik (Olimpija Ljubljana), Jasmin Kurtic (Sudtirol), Petar Stojanovic (Sampdoria), Benjamin Verbic (Panathinaikos), Miha Zajc (Fenerbahce), Sandi Lovric (Udinese), Adam Gnezda Cerin (Panathinaikos), Jon Gorenc Stankovic (Sturm Graz), Timi Max Elšnik (Olimpija Ljubljana), Tomi Horvat (Sturm Graz), Adrian Zeljkovic (Spartak Trnava), Nino Zugelj (Bodo/Glimt).
Strikers: Josip Ilicic (Maribor), Andraz Sporar (Panathinaikos), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Luka Zahovic (Pognon Szczecin), Zan Celar (Lugano), Jan Mlakar (Pisa), Zan Viptonik (Bordeaux).

Denmark

Fixtures

Denmark team jersey kit 1 (c) Soccerphile. Denmark team jersey kit 2 (c) Soccerphile. Denmark team jersey kit 3 (c) Soccerphile.

Denmark Kit 1
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Denmark Kit 2
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Denmark Kit 3
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Denmark v Slovenia, 16th June, Stuttgart
Denmark v Serbia, 20th June, Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt
Denmark v England, 25th June, Munich

Coach

Kasper Hjulmand - In charge since 2020, Hjulmand has guided his nation to two European Championships and a World Cup finals with a 63% win rate. In the 2023 Nations League Denmark beat world champions France home and away but missed out on the semi-finals by a point. Widely liked and respected across Europe, not least for his leadership throughout Christian Eriksen's cardiac horror at Euro 2020.

Parken Stadium, Denmark.
Danish fans are passionate and noisy

Record

Winners 1992, Semi-Final 1964, 1984, 2020, Quarter-Final 2004, Group Stage 1988, 1996, 2000, 2012.

FIFA Ranking (21st) in the world, 11th in UEFA

Men to watch

Rasmus Højlund - After being built up as a scoring saviour for Manchester United, he has shone intermittently for his club with ten goals in 30 games, but for Denmark he remains red-hot and at Euro 2024 amongst compatriots once more he will feel less pressure to perform.

Christian Eriksen - After the horror of an on-field cardiac arrest in 2020, Eriksen's return to the European Championships feels like a wonderful rebirth. He might be past his best but at 32, his midfield brain and cultured feet have many elegant passes and set pieces left to take.

Victor Kristiansen - Aged 21, he became the Danish Superliga's most expensive player when Copenhagen sold him for £17 million to Leicester City in 2023, but after 12 games he was loaned out to Bologna, where he made 32 appearances last season. A talented left back, he stood out in qualifying for popping up in attacking positions with crucial crosses and assists.

Predictions & Latest Odds

Denmark might sneak into the Round of 16 but do not have enough to worry any of the big teams. The bookies rate the Danes at 40/1, tenth favourite for the trophy.

How they qualified

Denmark came top of Group H on head-to-head results with Slovenia, ahead of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino.

On the sidelines

The omission of Matt O'Riley has provoked huge debate in Denmark as well as bafflement in Scotland, where the Celtic midfielder had supplied 19 goals and 18 assists in the Bhoys' title-winning season, whereas Christian Eriksen only scored twice in 50 games for Man United.

Formation

4-3-3 or 3-5-2

Stripped for action.
Danish fan stripped for action

Analysis

There is not much to suggest the Danes can repeat their glorious triumph of 1992 or match their semi-final finish at Euro 2020.

Denmark had a disappointing World Cup in Qatar, drawing with Tunisia and losing to both Australia and France. They then qualified for the Euros comfortably enough by winning all their home games but did not play opponents stronger than Finland or Slovenia, while they lost away to Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland.

In 2024 they have played two home friendlies, beating the Faroe Islands 2-0 and drawing 0-0 with Switzerland. On the basis of all that evidence, Denmark will not go far at Euro 2024.

The core of the team is experienced but ageing - Kaspar Schmeichel is 37, Simon Kjaer 35 and Christian Eriksen 32 - a trio with 359 caps between them. The fact is a consignment of young new Danish dynamite has not really arrived as hoped, leaving the manager likely to stick with what he knows best. Lose with either the dinosaurs or the fledglings, the boss will take the blame.

Not all of the young contingent are getting enough playing time at their clubs - Mikkel Damsgaard, aged 23, promised a lot at Euro 2020 and scored a memorable goal in the semi-final against England, but has not really caught fire since. He made 25 starts for Brentford this season.

Rasmus Højlund, two years his junior, has had a similar story and started the same number of games at Manchester United this season. But although Højlund may have struggled to impose himself on the Premier League after the initial fanfare, for Denmark he still finds the net regularly - in qualifying he was Group H's top scorer with seven in ten games.

Partnering Højlund up front should be Kasper Dolberg, a teenage prodigy at Ajax who after spells at Nice, Sevilla and Hoffenheim finally seems to have found his shooting boots again at Anderlecht with 15 in 39 this season.

Neither striker is particularly fast, so the attack tends to play diagonals and spread the ball wide before serving crosses into the box for runners to pile onto and Højlund to use his physical strength. Their tactics are simple but effective.

Wing backs Joakim Maehle of Wolfsburg and Bologna's Victor Kristiansen are key players as they cannot wait to race upfield and get into dangerous positions. Kristiansen's crosses from the left were particularly vital in qualifying while Maehle netted twice to make it 11 goals in 43 caps.

Overall, Denmark look solid but unspectacular. Their cohort of midfielders - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Tottenham, Brentford's Mathias Jensen and Christian Norgaard and Anderlecht's Thomas Delaney are no slouches but unlikely to get the pulse racing.

There is still Christian Eriksen of course, once one of the world's most elegant and technical playmakers.

Eriksen may have drifted out of favour at Man United with only 12 starts and one goal this season, but it is hard to see him not being the core of the Danish midfield again.

Not only is he one of his nation's all-time greats and his near-death experience at Euro 2020 left an emotional bond with fans worldwide, he is also by far the squad's top scorer with 40 goals, far ahead of second-placed Yussuf Poulsen's 12 and seems too big a name to drop.

Kasper Hjulmand may stick with the old guard but at least is brave with formations, switching the team's shape frequently during matches, cutting a striker and flooding the midfield against the stronger sides. They are anything but static.

The opening clash with Slovenia is a gift - Denmark beat them in Copenhagen as recently as November to seal qualification and drew with them away in Ljubljana a year ago so will be confident of getting off to a flying start.

England should prove too much for them in their final clash, although there is Danish desire to avenge the 2020 semi-final at Wembley and Raheem Sterling's dive for the decisive penalty.

That leaves their cup final as the match against Serbia, ranked seven places below them in UEFA. Again the draw has been kind to the Danes as they beat the Serbs 3-0 in a Copenhagen friendly in 2022 so they will take the field with confidence.

With four out of six third-placed teams making it to the Round of 16, there is a good chance Denmark will be there, but it is hard to see them surviving a clash with a big name. Finish second to England and they would probably face the host nation in the Round of 16.

The Danes have togetherness and some decent players but not enough top-drawer performers to frighten the big boys or warrant a bet on them going far in the tournament.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Anderlecht), Frederik Rønnow (Union Berlin), Mads Hermansen (Leicester).
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK), Josip Juranović (Union Berlin), Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanišić (Bayer Leverkusen), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Martin Erlić (Sassuolo), Marin Pongračić (Lecce).
Midfielders: - Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Marcelo Brozović (Al-Nassr), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (Torino), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Luka Ivanušec (Feyenoord), Luka Sučić (RB Salzburg), Martin Baturina (Dinamo).
Strikers: Ivan Perišić (Hajduk), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petković (Dinamo), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pašalić (Rijeka).


Serbia

Fixtures

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Serbia Kit 1
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Serbia Kit 2
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Serbia Kit 3
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Serbia v England, 16th June, Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
Serbia v Slovenia, 20th June, Munich
Serbia v Denmark, 25th June, Munich

Coach

Dragan Stojković. The 59-year-old was one of the classiest midfielders of his generation, made 120 appearances for Red Star and spent about a dozen years in the J.League in Japan as player and coach, learning from Arsene Wenger who anointed him as his favourite to take over at Arsenal. He also served as president of Red Star and the Serbian football association. A national legend for sure, but having taken over coaching Serbia in 2021, a first-round exit at Qatar 2022 saw many question his effectiveness.

Record

2024 is their first qualification as an independent nation.
As Serbia & Montenegro - 2000 Quarter Final

As Yugoslavia - 1960, 1968 Runners-Up; 1976 Semi-Final; 1984 Group Stage

FIFA Ranking (33rd) in the world, 18th in UEFA

Men to watch

Aleksandar Mitrović - Serbia need their marksman to be on fire in Germany. With an impressive 57 goals in 89 appearances, the former Fulham striker has his nation's hopes hanging on his shoulders. With 28 goals in as many appearances for Al-Hilal this season, he should enjoy playing just in front of his club teammate Sergej Milinković-Savić.

Dušan Tadić - At 35 years of age and with 106 caps he is no spring chicken, but the Serbian skipper is still a key man with his attacking creativity and scoring threat. Now at Fenerbahce, he has played for Ajax, Groningen and Twente in Holland and had four seasons in the Premier League with Southampton.

Predictions & Latest Odds

Serbia's attack has some quality but their defence looks too porous. First round or Round of 16 elimination is likely.

Serbia are rated 16th most likely to win Euro 2024, between 66 and 80/1.

How they qualified

Serbia finished second in Group G behind Hungary and ahead of Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Home and away wins over Montenegro took them to Germany ahead of their former partners.

On the sidelines

Serbia have no injury worries heading into the tournament.

Formation

3-4-2-1

Analysis

This is Serbia's first Euros qualification although they got to the last eight in 2000 with Montenegro as FR Yugoslavia.

Based on recent evidence, they will not ruffle many feathers in Germany but could provide some high-scoring entertainment. At Qatar 2022 they finished last in their group shipping eight goals in three games but also scored two against Switzerland and three against Cameroon.

This year a 4-0 reverse against Russia appears to confirm a leaky backline will be their downfall. That is a shame because their attack has some danger.

Juventus' Dušan Vlahović is a €65 million-valued striker who finished second in Serie A's capocannoniere race this season, although he may have to give way to the manager's preferred sole striker - Aleksandar Mitrović, who is also a reliable goalscorer and a handful for defenders.

Behind the front line there are two hard-working attackers in Tadić and Milinković-Savić and then Fulham's Saša Lukić and Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj patrolling the middle. PAOK's Andrija Živković will start on the right of a four-man midfield with Juve's Filip Kostić on the left. After shipping so many goals recently, the pressure will be on the back three - Werder Bremen's Miloš Veljković, Red Bull's Strahinja Pavlović and  Fiorentina's Nikola Milenković - to stop conceding. Stojković tried a back four this year against Russia but lost 4-0 so will probably stick with his favourite 3-4-2-1 shape.

The goalkeeping position is not clear cut but the most likely custodian is Torino's Vanja Malinković-Savić.

Serbia will probably lose their opening game against England but will be confident of beating fellow Yugoslavs Slovenia in their second one. That leaves the clash with Denmark in their final group game as their decider.

They are certainly in the bottom half of the 24 qualifiers having made the boat via a fairly weak group and their form is mediocre meaning they are a good bet for group elimination. While they will be motivated, there are serious defensive shortcomings so a Round of 16 finish appears the limit of their German odyssey.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Predrag Rajković (Mallorca), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Torino), Đorđe Petrović (Chelsea).
Defenders: Nikola Milenković (Fiorentina), Strahinja Pavlović (Red Bull Salzburg), Filip Mladenović (Panathinaikos), Miloš Veljković (Werder Bremen), Uroš Spajić (Red Star Belgrade), Srđan Babić (Spartak Moscow), Nemanja Stojić (TSC).
Midfielders: Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla), Dušan Tadić (Fenerbahçe), Filip Kostić (Juventus), Sergej Milinković-Savić (Al Hilal), Nemanja Maksimović (Getafe), Saša Lukić (Fulham), Andrija Živković (PAOK), Mijat Gaćinović (AEK Athens), Ivan Ilić (Torino), Srđan Mijailović (Red Star Belgrade), Lazar Samardžić (Udinese), Veljko Birmančević (Sparta Prague).
Strikers: - Aleksandar Mitrović (Al Hilal), Luka Jović (Milan), Dušan Vlahović (Juventus), Petar Ratkov (Red Bull Salzburg).

England

Fixtures

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England Kit 1
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England Kit 2
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England Kit 3
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England v Serbia, 16th June, Gelsenkirchen
England v Denmark, 20th June, Frankfurt
England v Slovenia, 25th June, Cologne

Coach

Gareth Southgate renowned for his strategic acumen and leadership qualities, assumed the poisoned chalice of England manager with a blend of experience as a former player for the national team and a nuanced understanding of football administration.

Southgate's tenure has been marked by a commitment to fostering a cohesive team culture. He emphasizes the importance of unity and resilience on and off the pitch. His tactical adaptability, evident in England's notable performances in recent major tournaments under his guidance, underscores his proficiency in optimizing player potential within varying match scenarios.

Moreover, Southgate's emphasis on nurturing young talent has yielded promising results, with a notable emphasis on integrating emerging players into the national squad. His holistic approach to management extends beyond just tactics to encompass the overall development and well-being of his players.

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England Kit 4
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England Kit 5
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England Kit 6
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Record

Runners-up 2020, Semi-Final 1996, 1968; Quarter-Final 2004, 2012; Round of 16 2016; Group stage 1980, 1988, 1992, 2000

FIFA Ranking (4th) in the world, 3rd in UEFA

Men to watch

Jude Bellingham - La Liga's player of the season and a 2024 Champions League winner at the age of 20, he seems to have it all at his feet, having surged into the world class category over the past two seasons. Balance, drive, technique, vision and goals - he has it all in his locker.

Kobbie Mainoo - As if England did not have enough talent already, another teenage sensation appears from nowhere. Commanding performances on his England debut and in the F.A. Cup final has made a man with only two caps outshine all other candidates for a starting position in central midfield.

Cole Palmer - The 22-year-old attacker was not part of Southgate's plans but his mesmeric ball control, dribbles and goals for Chelsea this season demand he gets playing time for England this summer.

Predictions & Latest Odds

England should sail through their group and look set fair for the final, but France, the host nation and Portugal will have something to say about that.

The bookies rate the Three Lions as 3/1 favourites for the trophy, so no pressure then.

How they qualified

England won Group C by six points after six wins and two draws, away to North Macedonia and Ukraine. Home and away victories over their Euro 2020 conquerors Italy stood out.

On the sidelines

Marcus Rashford - After two World Cups and two European Championships, 17 goals and 60 caps, the Manchester United star should be at the peak of his career aged 26, but was omitted from England's preliminary squad after a mediocre season.

Jadon Sancho - The 24-year-old reached the Champions League final this year, rejuvenated as one of Europe's top dribblers after returning on loan to his first club Borussia Dortmund in January, but his unravelling spell at Old Trafford has cost him his England place.

Raheem Sterling - The attacker was England's best player at the last Euros and is still performing for Chelsea but his national team career has been stuck on 82 caps since Qatar 2022.

Jordan Henderson - A reliable utility player for England with 81 caps, the former Liverpool captain was dropped after an unstable season which saw him make a controversial move to Al-Ettifaq before jumping ship in mid-season to Ajax, where he has only made nine appearances.

Formation

4-2-3-1

Analysis

Those of us born since 1966 have never seen England win a cup but, mirabile dictu, this year they are the favourites for a major tournament. While the domestic media and public traditionally expect all-out victory, for once it does seem realistic.

In 2006 the press foolishly applied Portugal's 'golden generation' tag to the Three Lions who ended up falling at the quarter-final stage at successive tournaments, but in 2024 that moniker has more than a note of truth to it.

While England went to Qatar with a suit of attacking aces, they are coming to Germany with a whole pack of them. To supply the Bundesliga's top scorer Harry Kane with chances there is La Liga's player of the year Jude Bellingham, dazzling in his first season at Real Madrid, two ball wizards in Manchester City's Phil Foden and Chelsea's Cole Palmer, and two fine wingers in Everton's propulsive Anthony Gordon on the left and Arsenal's tricky Bukayo Saka on the right. That is some arsenal.

The financial power of the Premier League is now coming to fruition via the club academies, although England's best player Bellingham came up via second flight Birmingham City.

As if that embarrassment of riches were not enough, off the bench could spring Jack Grealish, Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins, while an attacking midfield could call upon Conor Gallagher and James Maddison. There may well be no place for Liverpool's versatile wing-back/midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold, such is Southgate's full larder.

Moving to midfield, Kobbie Mainoo, with only two caps, suddenly looks England's best player beside Bellingham. At barely 19, the Manchester United midfielder should be a shoe-in after an assured debut for the national side and a commanding performance in the F.A. Cup Final, where he won the man of the match award.

If we are looking for weaknesses, Declan Rice has certainly improved since moving to Arsenal but still may not be best defensive midfielder in the world, Harry Maguire is accident prone in central defence, first choice left back Luke Shaw will not be match sharp while Kyle Walker's marking went worryingly astray in the F.A. Cup final. Plus Jordan Pickford in goal is as agile as they come but at 1.85m is not the tallest custodian.

In other words, this team is a bit top-heavy and its defensive shortcomings will be probed in the knock-out stages of the competition.

In Qatar they were found out. England did nothing especially wrong when they lost 2-1 to France, but were felled by two quality strikes and Harry Kane missed a penalty. Fine margins matter at this level.

If England's rearguard can be pierced by the best attacks then they must rely on their fearsome attack to outscore the opposition, but playing on the front foot goes against their manager's instinct to protect leads, which backfired in the Euro 2020 final. That game also saw an English hoodoo return in the form of losing penalty shootouts.

For all the criticism of Southgate's safety-first conservatism and player loyalty, he has picked a quiver full of arrows this time and dropped regulars Jordan Henderson or Marcus Rashford so his thinking has evolved.

There is nobody in the group for England to fear so we can look ahead to knockout meetings with the bigger guns. But how would the Three Lions fare against Les Bleus this time? They could meet the hosts as early as the Round of 16, while a rejuvenated Spain and Portugal will be stiff opposition too.

But no knight can find the Holy Grail without meeting challenges first so bring on the toughest tests.

On paper this is England's best chance of finally winning this tournament and getting the mental burden of '66 being their only trophy off their back. Former boss Fabio Capello said he thought the pressure of the badge weighed too heavily on his players. Those jerseys might feel that bit lighter come the 15th of July.

For seasoned watchers who dream of the Three Lions and silverware together at last, it does feel like this time it is now or never.

Quite reasonably for once, England expects.

Three Lions.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
Strikers: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Compiled by Sean O'Conor