Teddy Sheringham has urged England to take their chances at Euro 2024 if they want to avoid familiar heartbreak and end 58 years of hurt this summer. Three years on from devastation against Italy at Wembley Stadium, England’s next European Championships campaign commences against Serbia tonight.
The Three Lions get underway as tournament favourites, with France and Portugal heavily favoured. Germany also earned more backing with their 5-1 rout against Scotland.
While the Euro 2024 champions won’t be determined until July 14, one thing is for certain. Gareth Southgate’s squad is arguably the strongest in the tournament, and with that comes an expectation.
England have done themselves no shame in the three tournaments of the Southgate era. The semi-finals in the 2018 World Cup were followed by a Euro 2020 final on home turf.
Every England fan knows the highs of Luke Shaw’s early opener to raise the roof off Wembley. But every England fan also knows how that ended.
Reaching the final was an improvement, but this is a generation of talent worthy of winning the highest honours.
A World Cup quarter-final against France was always a tall order in 2022. That game could’ve gone either way, but the Three Lions fell short again.
Now, in Germany, it could finally be England’s time to realise their potential and lift their first piece of major silverware since 1966.
Sheringham has insisted that Southgate should be expected to take his side one step further to become European champions this summer.
And if there’s one thing the Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur icon believes England must do to achieve glory, it’s take their chances.
“I think so [England have to win Euro 2024],” Sheringham told Express Sport on behalf of TG Casino when asked if Southgate’s side have to go a step further this summer.
“Based on how well they’ve done in recent tournaments, you’d like to think we’ve got a chance. We have to take our little opportunities when we can.
“That’s the difference between winning and losing each game, and that’s the difference between winning and losing tournaments.
“So that’s where we’re at. I’m optimistic and a bit expectant now.”
England also face Denmark on June 20 and Slovenia on June 25 in a potentially tricky Group C.
If Southgate’s side top the group, they wouldn’t be scheduled to come across another group winner until the semi-finals.
