I used to enjoy watching England fail on the biggest stage – from the Golden Generation going out in the quarters every time, to Wayne Rooney shouting down the camera at booing fans.
Oh, and who could forget the brilliant Sam Allardyce reign? Faultless that was, eh.
Well, all that stopped at the 2018 World Cup as Gareth Southgate employed a back three and took England all the way to the semi-finals. They still lost to Croatia, but even I have to admit it was a bit exciting. Even if the football wasn’t the best.
Anyway, this summer Southgate has got a job on his hands selecting a 23-man squad he’ll hope will go two better and win the whole damn thing. They couldn’t, could they?
And the generous soul that I am, I’ve decided to give the man who filmed the best Pizza Hut advert ever some timely advice, using the odds from Paddy Power’s expert traders on who will make the initial 23-man England Euro 2020 squad.
Predicted England Euro 2020 squad
Okay, we best start in goal. A problem area in the past, Jordan Pickford does have a gaffe in him but at 1/14 he’s as close to a shoo-in as you will get. Burnley keeper Nick Pope is not far behind at 1/12 while Dean Henderson looks to have sealed his spot after a cracking Premier League campaign with Sheffield United at 1/5. That was pretty easy.
Aaron Ramsdale of Bournemouth has an outside chance at 7/2 if one of those three suffer an injury, but Alex McCarthy (9/1) and Jack Butland (12/1) can probably start booking their summer holidays. Joe Hart is a 50/1 shot and one he wouldn’t even catch.
GOALKEEPERS: Pickford, Pope, Henderson
In defence, flying Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is nailed on at 1/25, the same odds as Harry Maguire. Then we’ve got a trio of players at 1/9 in Ben Chilwell, Joe Gomez and John Stones. That’s five in the bank.
Now it gets a bit tricky. Southgate needs cover for TAA at right-back and Chilwell on the left, so he’ll probably take Newcastle loanee Danny Rose and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker. He will want another centre-back but it’s a toss up between Fikayo Tomori (5/4) and Tyrone Mings (13/10) – I’m closing my eyes and saying Tomori.
Others in with a shout include Kieran Trippier (5/4), Luke Shaw (5/2) and Aaron Wan Bissaka (3/1). But where is Phil Jones I hear you ask? Back at 66/1. Phil, just head to a beach and enjoy the time off fella.
DEFENDERS: Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Chilwell, Gomez, Stones, Rose, Walker, Tomori
With eight defenders in the squad we move into midfield – Jordan Henderson at 1/14 is a done deal. James Maddison at 2/9, Dele Alli 3/10 and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 1/3 have all done enough too. There’s no Paul Scholes to admire anymore but maybe there is an able deputy in Jack Grealish. He hasn’t got a call-up yet but given the season he’s having at Aston Villa his odds of 1/2 aren’t surprising me. Great player. And definitely, definitely English,
Those five aren’t exactly defensive-minded and that’s where Declan Rice comes in at 4/7. He isn’t flawless, far from it but he’s the best England have got in that position. Mason Mount (4/6) and Harry Winks (Evens) will be unlucky but I think they’ll miss out. Outside chances but unlikely go to Ross Barkley (6/4), Eric Dier (11/4) and Fabian Delph (11/4).
Jesse Lingard can focus on his social media accounts at 11/2 while Jack Wilshere is a 50/1 long shot. He won’t be fit anyway.
MIDFIELDERS: Henderson, Maddison, Alli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Grealish, Rice
Right, my favourite bit, the strikers. Something really serious would have to happen to Raheem Sterling for him to not be on that plane at 1/25, while Jadon Sancho (1/12) and Harry Kane (1/10) will be joining him.
Tammy Abraham can relax at 1/5 along with Marcus Rashford (2/9), whose recent injury may actually help him get some rest before the summer. For the last spot I reckon Southgate will go with wide-man Callum Hudson-Odoi, although it’s certainly between him and fellow 6/4 price Danny Ings.
Mason Greenwood and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (both 7/2) will both need to pray for injuries to make the cut and Jamie Vardy doesn’t look like reversing his decision to retire from England duty at 11/2. Shame.
FORWARDS: Sterling, Kane, Sancho, Kane, Abraham, Rashford, Hudson-Odoi
To make England Euro 2020 squad odds
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford 1/14
Nick Pope 1/12
Dean Henderson 1/5
Aaron Ramsdale 7/2
Alex McCarthy 9/1
Jack Butland 12/1
Joe Hart 50/1
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold 1/25
Harry Maguire 1/25
Ben Chilwell 1/9
Joe Gomez 1/9
John Stones 1/9
Danny Rose 4/9
Kyle Walker 4/6
Fikayo Tomori 5/4
Kieran Trippier 5/4
Tyrone Mings 13/10
Luke Shaw 5/2
Aaron Wan Bissaka 3/1
Reece James 5/1
Michael Keane 5/1
Chris Smalling 10/1
Phil Jones 66/1
Midfielders
Jordan Henderson 1/14
James Maddison 2/9
Dele Alli 3/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 1/3
Jack Grealish 1/2
Declan Rice 4/7
Mason Mount 4/6
Harry Winks Evs
Ross Barkley 6/4
Eric Dier 11/4
Fabian Delph 11/4
Phil Foden 7/2
Jesse Lingard 11/2
Ruben Loftus Cheek 6/1
Jack Wilshere 50/1
Forwards
Raheem Sterling 1/25
Jadon Sancho 1/12
Harry Kane 1/10
Tammy Abraham 1/5
Marcus Rashford 2/9
Callum Hudson-Odoi 6/4
Danny Ings 6/4
Mason Greenwood 7/2
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 7/2
Jamie Vardy 11/2
Callum Wilson 6/1