Analysing England’s form ahead of Euro 2024

As Euro 2024 inches ever closer, England are regarded as one of the teams to watch this summer.

Following respectable performances in major tournaments during the Gareth Southgate era, including a run to the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020, the Three Lions have demonstrated a consistent level of high performance on the international stage.

The England to win Euros odds have Southgate’s men priced as short as 3/1, making them the favourites to win the tournament.

So, let’s delve into England’s form since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, examining their journey through European qualifiers and friendlies to gauge their potential for success in Germany.

European qualifiers

England’s road to Euro 2024 has been largely positive, with the team showing resilience and offensive prowess in abundance.

The qualifiers kicked off impressively with a 2-1 victory over Italy, a significant result against a historically strong opponent and a perfect revanche for their Euro 2020 final defeat.

This victory set the tone for subsequent matches, where England secured a series of convincing wins, including a 2-0 victory against Ukraine, a dominant 4-0 over Malta, and an emphatic 7-0 thrashing of North Macedonia at Old Trafford.

However, England's qualifying campaign wasn't without its minor setbacks. A couple of draws on the road, 1-1 against both Ukraine and North Macedonia, showed some vulnerabilities in dealing with away games and lower-ranked, yet highly motivated, teams.

Despite these hiccups, England effectively secured their spot at the tournament, topping their group thanks to crucial wins like the 3-1 victory in the return leg against Italy and steady wins against Malta and Ukraine at home.

Friendlies

England’s performance in friendly matches post-World Cup has offered a mixed bag of results, providing both reassurance and areas for improvement.

Victories against Scotland (3-1) and Australia (1-0) last September and October highlighted England's ability to handle pressure and maintain consistency.

On the other hand, the recent 1-0 loss to Brazil and the 2-2 draw with Belgium exposed some defensive frailties against top-tier opposition, areas that will undoubtedly be of concern to manager Southgate going into the Euros.

Both of these games were tough tests against two of the world’s best, but they highlighted different worries ahead of Euro 2024.

The loss to Brazil showcased England’s potential lack of cutting edge without Kane leading the line, as the Three Lions failed to score despite registering 16 goal attempts, just four of which hit the target.

The draw with Belgium shone the spotlight on possible defensive fatalities, as calamity at the back led to Youri Tielemans opening the scoring in the 11th minute before Lewis Dunk failed to deal with Romelu Lukaku, who went on to set up Tielemans’ second.

There was a positive to take away from the match, as Jude Bellingham’s late goal in the 95th minute showcased England’s never-say-die attitude even in friendly scenarios.

Overall, England’s form heading into Euro 2024 is promising but not without its cautionary tales. The team has demonstrated a strong offensive capability and depth in talent, crucial for enduring the demands of a tournament like the Euros.

Yet, the defensive concerns, particularly shown in matches against higher-ranked teams, will need strategic adjustments if England are to prevail on their status as favourites with those who bet on the Euros.