England are among the 2020 favourites and rightly so given the quality players at manager Gareth Southgate’s disposal this summer.
A quick look at the Euro 2020 betting odds show that Southgate’s side are seen as strong contenders, although France seem very much the team to beat.
England have to be considered among the tournament heavyweights – not least because Wembley being the venue for the final means that they are effectively the host nation.
Southgate will be hoping that his captain Harry Kane recovers from injury in time to be back to his best in good time. But even if the Tottenham striker isn’t fully up to speed or misses out altogether, Southgate has other attacking players who can weigh in with goals – and four of them play for Chelsea.
Tammy Abraham has enjoyed a superb first season as a Premier League regular, although he is currently nursing an injury of his own. Assuming his ankle problem clears up sooner rather than later, the Blues striker could be the go-to option for England if they are without Kane.
With Callum Hudson-Odoi regaining his sharpness following a ruptured Achilles tendon, the young winger could also be a useful attacking option for Southgate.
Hudson-Odoi can play on either wing or through the middle, has an eye for goal and already has some international experience, having looked lively in his England appearances prior to his injury.
Mason Mount is another Chelsea youngster to have made an impact this season, drawing comparisons with none other than his club manager Frank Lampard. And while Lampard does not like to make that comparison – refusing to do so whenever asked about the similarities – Mount has shown the same tendency to pop up in the box and score goals. Could the midfielder make a name for himself this summer?
While some of Chelsea’s younger players have made the headlines, Barkley remains very much part of the England set-up and a player capable of making an impact in the final third of the field. He hasn’t always been a first-choice player for Chelsea – partly because of Mount’s emergence – but Southgate rates him and will be looking for him to show he belongs at the top level of international football.
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This post was last modified on 11/10/2023