England Euro 2024 squad guide: Fixtures, predictions and best players

Once again, England head into a major tournament with grand expectations.

However, while previous optimism was misguided, the Three Lions' current projections are justified. They may be yet to get over the line with Gareth Southgate at the helm but England have consistently impressed on the biggest stages.

Blessed with a litany of superstar talent and impressive squad harmony, some might regard anything but a maiden European Championship victory in Germany this summer as a disappointment.

Here's 90min's guide to England's squad for Euro 2024.

England Euro 2024 squad selection

Having initially named a 33-man training camp squad ahead of the tournament, Southgate has confirmed the 26 players he'll be taking to Euro 2024.

Southgate has been criticised for perceived favouritism in the past but his latest squad has seen several members of the old guard left out. Marcus Rashford, Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson have played big roles in this England team under Southgate but none will be on the plane to Germany. They weren't even included in the provisional squad.

Raheem Sterling, who typically performs superbly at major tournaments, hasn't been able to work his way back into contention, while Jadon Sancho also wasn't called up despite his recent renaissance. Jack Grealish, despite his poor 2023/24 campaign, was the most surprising omission from the final squad having been included in the pre-tournament camp.

Crystal Palace's upsurge under Oliver Glasner has been reflected by the inclusion of four Eagles in the squad. Adam Wharton's stock has risen exponentially since joining the club in January, and his impressive cameo off the bench against Bosnia & Herzegovina certainly would've helped his cause. Eberechi Eze is the wildcard addition to Southgate's squad, with the Palace playmaker preferred to James Maddison.

In the absence of Phillips and Henderson, Southgate will likely turn to Conor Gallagher or young Kobbie Mainoo as his midfield balancer. Trent Alexander-Arnold is another option having started alongside Gallagher against Bosnia.

There are question marks over the defence with Southgate stalwart Harry Maguire missing out due to a calf injury. John Stones will be partnered by either Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi or Lewis Dunk this summer with Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah being among the seven players cut from the provisional squad. Quansah's club teammate Curtis Jones also didn't make the final squad.

It seems as if Southgate will be reliant on a half-fit Luke Shaw at left-back given the lack of natural alternatives. Joe Gomez and Konsa's versatility will be valued in Germany.

England's Euro 2024 squad

Tactics

England have never been regarded as tactically supreme under Southgate, although international teams in general are wildly inferior in this regard compared to elite club sides.

Managers simply don't have enough time with their players to instil the sophisticated principles seen ubiquitously at club level.

Thus, balance, relationships and familiarity are important on the international stage. England's team has changed considerably from the 2018 World Cup, where Southgate deployed a 5-3-2 formation, but there won't be too much upheaval at Euro 2024 compared to the two most recent major tournaments.

Southgate's England will likely line up in a 4-2-3-1, and the manager will hope that Luke Shaw, who made the final squad, can replicate his previous tournament form this summer. Shaw plays a crucial role down the left, with his upfield surges allowing the left winger to drift inside and occupy more central spaces. Shaw's absence from the XI could negatively impact Phil Foden should Southgate choose to deploy him wide left. Bukayo Saka will be tasked with hugging the touchline on the opposite flank with right-back Kyle Walker rarely venturing forward to provide balance.

If Jude Bellingham is utilised as a number 10, expect to see plenty of rotation between him and leading man Harry Kane given the latter's tendency to drop in and Bellingham's willingness to crash the box.

As a collective, England typically build play slowly, focus their attacks out wide and are strong from set-pieces. Without the ball, the Three Lions have proven tough to penetrate at major tournaments. Southgate favours a disciplined 4-4-2 mid-block over high-pressing, although England are far more aggressive out of possession now than they were at the start of the manager's tenure.

Fixtures

England have been placed in Group C alongside Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia. The Three Lions beat Denmark in the semi-finals at Euro 2020 and have recently faced off in the UEFA Nations League but are less familiar with their other two opponents.

England's Euro 2024 campaign kicks off against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on 16 June. It'll be the first time they've ever faced an independent Serbia.

They take on the Danes on Matchday 2 before facing Slovenia to wrap up the group stage. England have faced Slovenia in four qualifiers since they last met at a major tournament - the 2010 World Cup - winning three and drawing one. This is Slovenia's first Euros since 2000.

England's Euro 2024 group stage fixtures

England's record vs Euro 2024 group stage opponents

England's potential knockout opponents

Should England top Group C as expected, they'll face one of the third-place finishers from Group D, E or F in the last 16.

In that scenario, potential round of 16 opponents are Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Czechia, Turkey and Georgia. The likes of France, Portugal and the Netherlands would each have to disappoint considerably in the group stage to face England.

Victory in that tie would see the Three Lions face either the runners-up of Group A or B. Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Croatia are among the candidates. France could then await in the last four.

If England finish second in Group C, they'll take on the winners of Group A in the first knockout round. Hosts Germany could await, but that's a route Southgate will be keen to avoid.

Key players to watch

England's Euro 2024 squad is packed with talent, with many of their attackers heading into the campaign off the back of stellar seasons.

Record goalscorer Harry Kane topped the Bundesliga scoring charts without breaking a sweat, Phil Foden, who's yet to ignite for his country, inspired Manchester City to a fourth-straight Premier League title and Jude Bellingham took to life at Real Madrid as no other 20-year-old on the planet could.

Those three will make up the fulcrum of England's attack.

Southgate's starting XI for the opening group game against Serbia will be a familiar one but there are a couple of positions up for grabs. Luke Shaw's so important to this England side and Southgate needs him fit and firing, while a replacement for Kalvin Phillips, who shone at Euro 2020, is needed. Will Conor Gallagher fill the void alongside the steely Declan Rice, or will rookies Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo step up?

Emerging talents

Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah were both cut from the final squad, but there's still scope for English talent to emerge in Germany this summer.

Adam Wharton is a classy yet tenacious midfielder that England rarely produce. Wharton's rise has been rapid since joining Palace in the winter, and the 20-year-old could suddenly find himself starting in the middle of the park alongside Declan Rice at Euro 2024.

Kobbie Mainoo made his international bow in March and is viewed as a contender for a spot in Southgate's XI given his stellar second half to the 2023/24 season at Man Utd.

Cole Palmer can't be ignored after his remarkable Premier League campaign, but the Chelsea star will find it hard to break into a stacked forward line. Palmer is poised for regular minutes off the bench and his impressive tendency to make things happen means he could still enjoy a breakout international tournament. Anthony Gordon will also be considered down the left if Southgate opts for a dynamic change.

Palmer and Gordon have four England caps between them, with both players yet to find the back of the net for their country.

Another breakout contender is Eberechi Eze. The dynamic playmaker found a new lease of life under Glasner at Palace towards the end of the season and is surely one of England's most in-form players heading into the tournament. Eze's an X-factor talent who's won just three caps for his country so far.

Predictions

England haven't lost a group stage game at a major tournament since they were beaten in a dead rubber by Belgium at the 2018 World Cup. Southgate's side have typically been proficient at beating teams they've been expected to defeat and that will be the case for all three group games this summer.

While Serbia have their most talented core in a generation, they typically underwhelm at tournaments. Denmark aren't quite as collectively sound as they were at Euro 2020, while Slovenia have little tournament experience and will be heavily reliant on 20-year-old goalscorer Benjamin Sesko.

England might not utterly dominate Group C but it'd be a big surprise if they don't finish in first place. An 'easier' knockout path should ensue, with the Three Lions set up to duel France in the semi-finals. Their tournament will be defined by that fixture. Eliminate Didier Deschamps' side and they'll back themselves to beat anyone - even hosts Germany - in the final.

Once again, expect Harry Kane to top the scoring charts, with Bellingham more likely than Foden to emerge as England's second protagonist in Germany.

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