Former England, Liverpool and Spurs hitman Peter Crouch simply cannot wait for Euro 2024 to get underway on Friday evening.
Our columnist has submitted his outright selections for the tournament and offered up some red-hot takes on the goings on in Germany over the next month or so.
He’ll be putting his esteemed neck on the line for every Three Lions game in Euro 2024 and you can check out his Serbia v England betting tips for Sunday night right now.
But with the big off just hours away, Crouchy’s verdict is in and, while he’s using some reverse psychology for England in this tournament, he thinks Gareth Southgate’s gang could go on to dominate world football for years to come if they can find a way over the line this summer.
Who’s going to win the whole thing?
I fancy Portugal to be strong and I really like France as well. I don’t want to say England because we say it every time and it just doesn’t happen. I’m hoping if I don’t say it it might come true! So… I’m going to go for FRANCE.
Who are they beating in the final?
It looks like Germany and Portugal might be in the other side of the draw and I just have a feeling about GERMANY going far.
Who’s your dark horse?
GERMANY are not really dark horses but they’re not fancied either and no-one seems to rate them that much. I don’t understand why, they’ve got some top players and I think they’re going to have a good tournament.
Who’s winning the Golden Boot?
For a cheeky outside bet I think NICLAS FULLKRUG might get a few. He’s a big price but if Germany go far he’ll get a few so might be worth a quid or two each way. He could be this tournament’s Miroslav Klose, an underrated player who can score goals.
Outside of him you’ve got the same old faces, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane but I’ve had a cheeky, long-range double on Germany to win the Euros and Fullkrug to be top scorer so I’ll stick with that.
Read More: Euro 2024 Wallchart | | England’s Route To Euro 2024 Final | England’s Euro 2024 Squad | Euro 2024 on TV | Euro 2024 Live Stream
Who’s going to be player of the tournament?
I think it will probably be Kylian Mbappe, he’s just so talented, but everyone seems to think that so I’ll go for an outside shout with CRISTIANO RONALDO. Portugal have a great squad and we all know how good he is.
How far will England get?
I’ve gone for France to win the whole thing and it looks like we could play them in the semi finals so with my sensible hat on I’ll say the LAST FOUR.
How far will Scotland get?
Scotland would be buzzing to get through but I think they’ll just fall short and will exit at the GROUP STAGE. They’ve got some solid teams in their group. I think they’ll just miss out on making the knockouts with Germany and the Swiss one and two in Group A.
Southgate in or Southgate out?
It all depends on what happens in this tournament.
We could be approaching a period of English domination
If we can get over the first hurdle than I think we can be there or thereabouts in World Cups and Euros to come because there’s another batch of young players coming through who are as good as, if not better, than the ones we’ve got now.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are going to be about for another decade and, although it sounds like the might leave, if we win this summer why wouldn’t Gareth stick around?
Who’s England’s most important player?
Harry Kane without a doubt. If he gets in amongst the goals I think England can win it!
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