EURO 2024 is just four days away — and SunSport have assembled a dream team of star columnists to keep you in the picture.
Jack Wilshere, Jurgen Klinsmann, Harry Redknapp and Gordon Strachan kicked off the countdown to the finals with a Q&A night in front of Sun football fans.
Darren FletcherHarry Redknapp, Gordon Strachan, Jack Wilshere and Jurgen Klinsmann are the Euro 2024 SunSport columnists[/caption]
Darren FletcherThe dream team of stars put on a superb preview night for The Sun football fans[/caption]
The quartet were quizzed on the key issues by The Sun’s Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS . . .
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FINAL 26-MAN ENGLAND SQUAD?
Redknapp: “My confidence is not as strong as it was before the squad was announced.
“I’m sorry to see Harry Maguire not there. You put your life on him. He isn’t the most talented but we’ll miss him.
“Jack Grealish is a big loss. Maybe he needs to get back to concentrating on his football. His form this year has gone to pieces. I’m not sure he’s Gareth Southgate’s cup of tea.”
Wilshere: “The biggest shock for me is James Maddison. He creates space, occupies players and can make that final pass.
“I would put Kyle Walker in centre-back with his experience. Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are fearless, especially Mainoo playing for Manchester United. He’s got the mentality to cope.”
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HOW BIG A ROLE WILL HARRY KANE PLAY?
Klinsmann: “Harry Kane is hungry as hell. Being at Bayern will help, not only scoring a phenomenal amount of goals but experiencing all the stadiums, the country. People love him in Germany.
“Maybe it’s meant to be that he finally wins his first trophy with England in Germany.”
Redknapp: “We’ve got the best No 9 in the world. He’s very important. He’s a complete all-round footballer and can do everything.”
Strachan: “I like Harry. There’s a humility about him that every kid could concentrate on. Forget Instagram and TikTok, watch him. He’s wonderful at playing football.”
IS THIS JUDE BELLINGHAM’S TOURNAMENT?
Wilshere: “I’ve never seen anything like it with that mentality, humility but also a top, top player who has got everything.
“He’s so young but when you listen to him, he’s like a mature 30-year-old man. We should be so excited about him.”
Klinsmann: “His courage to go abroad is priceless. He speaks German, he’s learning Spanish. He needs to see this as school and stay loving the game . . . have fun, enjoy it with a smile. The whole world recognises him already.”
GettyHarry Kane’s experience in Germany could prove crucial[/caption]
PAJude Bellingham will hope to lead England to glory[/caption]
HOW DOES THE SCOTLAND SIDE SHAPE UP?
Strachan: “Steve Clarke’s built a team around the best players, he’s got a wonderful midfield. Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor.
“Up front, they need somebody to complement the midfielders because they’ll score goals. Every team will find it hard playing against them.”
Wilshere: “I love Gilmour. What a player. Brighton have done unbelievable things with him.
“I used to hate playing against McGinn, you couldn’t get the ball off him. Scotland have characters in there.”
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM HOSTS GERMANY?
Klinsmann: “I’m confident. After huge disappointments in the last two World Cups where maybe optimism became arrogance, it’s time this generation shows a different face. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are exciting youngsters.
“Toni Kroos retires here. Kai Havertz is wonderful. It’s a good mix of young and old.
EPAThe experts reckon Scotland’s midfield will make them very tough to beat[/caption]
GettyFlorian Wirtz and Toni Kroos epitomise the youth and experience in the Germany squad[/caption]
“They need a good result and good performance in the opener against Scotland. If they do, they can ride a wave and make the semis.”
Redknapp: “I’m interested in Germany because it’s about time they produced again.
“Being at home, they’re going to be dangerous. For England, Germany and Portugal would be the teams I would fear most.”
IS THE PRESSURE OF PENALTIES STILL A WORRY FOR ENGLAND?
Wilshere: “We practised penalties but you can’t recreate playing for your country in a full stadium in training.
“What Gareth has done is he’s brought in a new method to the practice where he takes a few players away and they really focus on the technique.
“I would trust us more now in that situation but still, there is this anxiety around penalties.”
Strachan: “I took 60, scored 54. It was quite simple at Aberdeen under Alex Ferguson, because you were dead if you missed, your life became a misery, I was petrified.
“On many occasions, England could’ve gone for more goals.
“Determine your own future, how the game goes. If they get that mentality, then they won’t have to go to penalties.
“You’ve got the players to win this. You’ve got players that the whole of Europe are scared of. Well, go and scare them.”
SHOULD SOUTHGATE LEAVE AFTER THE EUROS?
Redknapp: “If they don’t win it, I think Gareth probably goes. But if they win it, he’s in an amazing position.
“He stays if he wants to or he goes out as a winner and I’m sure Manchester United would be knocking on the door.”
Strachan: “If I was Gareth, I would go and be a full-time club manager somewhere.
“Whatever happens, I would say, ‘Thanks very much, great experience, see you later’. If you don’t win it, in the first interview you say, ‘I’m off’.”
ARE ENGLAND THE FAVOURITES?
Klinsmann: “The timing is just right. After Russia, the Euros final and Qatar, the team is mature enough to deal with all the expectations and pressure.
“Gareth Southgate has matured and learnt, too. I can really imagine that this is the moment for England.”
England will be desperate not to lose on penalties after their final heartache three years agoGetty
GettyGareth Southgate may leave his job after the tournament[/caption]
Redknapp: “I think we’ll win it. If we get to the semi-final and get knocked out, we haven’t done well.
“This team needs to win it. This is an amazing group of young players, especially going forward. I’d like to see us have a right go and tear teams to pieces. If we do that, I can’t see anybody stopping us.”
Wilshere: “We’re definitely favourites. If we don’t win it, it will be seen as a failure. Gareth’s done such a great job and he’s brought hope.
“We’ve got the best players on paper but I know the game’s not played on paper.”
Strachan: “I’m a fan of some of the players. But no, you are bad enough and unbearable as a nation without winning anything.
“So if you win something, it’ll be a complete nightmare and I’m moving to Iceland where I can enjoy myself, change my nationality to Icelandic and bask in the glory of beating England!”
WHO WILL WIN EURO 2024?
Klinsmann: “England.”
Strachan: “Germany.”
Wilshere: “England.”
Redknapp: “England.”
Darren FletcherWilshere offered his expert insight[/caption]
Darren FletcherStrachan entertained the crowd with his superb anecdotes[/caption]
Darren FletcherHarry Redknapp is on the team for SunSport[/caption]
Darren FletcherJurgen Klinsmann completes the team[/caption]
Darren FletcherThe Sun’s Head of Sport Shaun Custis hosted the evening[/caption]