Michael Owen gives his Euro 2024 Prediction – Is Football finally Coming Home? or will the Three Lions fail to deliver glory again?
Michael Owen had a decade long career playing for England scoring 40 times in 89 games and was even a member of the dubbed “Golden Generation” that so many expected more from! Could this new generation of English “Superstars” be the one that finally brings Football Home? At BoyleSports we caught up with Michael Owen to give his Euro 2024 prediction and whether or not the Three Lions can finally deliver the glory their talent so often promises.
Owen gives an in-depth look into how he’d set up this England side to deliver glory and has some big claims about Jude Bellingham and how he matches up to Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes!
EURO 2024 PREDICTION
I think England have a great chance of winning Euro 2024, but it’s so hard to predict a winner in a knockout tournament. It’s impossible to predict what’ll happen.
I think England and France are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition at the moment. France are probably the best team in the world, but I thought England were better than them in the World Cup!
Argentina obviously won the World Cup, but I think France would beat them in a league-style setting. France knocked England out, but I still think England were better in that game.
If I were to predict a winner, then it would be a toss-up between England and France.
If I had to choose, I’d say France, as they’re the best team in the world at the moment. However, an England victory wouldn’t come as a surprise.
OWEN IMPRESSED BY ENGLAND
I was so impressed with England in the World Cup, even if they went out in the quarters. I think we’re a bloody good team.
The players are getting more experienced, and so is the manager. Most competition-winning teams don’t do it overnight, it takes time. I think our time will come.
MICHAEL OWEN’S ENGLAND STARTING XI
I would pick different England teams depending on who they’re playing.
I would, however, go for Pickford in goal regardless.
We have so many great right-backs! Kyle Walker is a must due to his pace, but I also think Reece James is as good a right-back as anyone.
I’d go with Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw in defence. I’d then go with Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden as two number eights.
My front three would be Bukayo Saka on the right, Marcus Rashford on the left, and Harry Kane in the middle.
I know Gareth likes to play with two number-sixes, but I’d go for one in Declan Rice. My formation is almost like a 4-1-4-1.
PICKING AN ENGLAND XI TO PLAY FRANCE
In a big game, you could play a back-three with Reece James and Luke Shaw as the wing-backs. You could also consider unleashing Trent into midfield. He has such a creative influence, and I would consider putting him alongside Rice.
Gareth likes to play two sixes, but I wonder who he could possibly play there now. Kalvin Phillips doesn’t play for City, so I don’t see how he could play in this team. Rice and Trent could be the answer.
I’d have to drop Foden or Rashford to make this happen. It depends on who England are playing. They have the option of mixing it up.
I feel like Gareth should experiment with a back-three more. I always thought that formation suited England, even back in my day.
COULD BELLINGHAM ECLIPSE GERRARD, LAMPARD & SCHOLES WITH EURO 2024 TITLE?
Jude Bellingham wouldn’t automatically be better than Gerrard, Lampard, and Scholes if he wins La Liga, the Champions League, and Euro 2024 next year. He’d win the Ballon d’Or, though!
Those players did it for years and years and they never dropped their level. They won multiple titles and they were also Champions League winners.
Jude is amazing and there’s no bigger admirer of him than me, but we can’t talk about him being more decorated than those players just yet. He needs to do it for five, six, or seven years to be up there with them.
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