England opened their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with back-to-back wins against Italy and Ukraine.
After crashing out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the quarter-final stage to then-champions France, the Three Lions’ ability to make that last step to becoming champions was called into question.
They’ll have to wait until next summer to truly right such wrongs and rewrite headlines, but Gareth Southgate’s men are on the right track again.
Who impressed the most over this international window and whose stock is plummeting? Let’s dive in…
England’s record scorer, standing alone in history.
Harry Kane has now found the back of the net 55 times while representing the Three Lions. His place in the record books has been cemented, and his two goals against Italy and Ukraine showed he is still thinking about the present and future, revealing his ambition to reach 100 strikes for England.
You know a player is a superstar when they make headlines for doing absolutely nothing.
Rashford pulled out of the England squad through injury – the fifth time that he has done that in the last six international windows minus the World Cup.
Southgate initially bemoaned this record but did defend Rashford’s impromptu trip to New York. Nevertheless, his stock will have fallen within the Three Lions setup.
Rashford’s Manchester United form has been extraordinary, but it has slightly overshadowed that of England teammate and Arsenal rival Bukayo Saka.
Following his impressive showing against Ukraine – picking out Kane with a pinpoint cross for the opener before firing into the top corner himself – the 21-year-old has reaffirmed just why Southgate was early on the hype train and has stuck by him since.
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Saka’s gain is Raheem Sterling’s loss. Southgate appeared to have run out of faith in the Chelsea forward at the World Cup, preferring various other options in his frontline.
Sterling hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons at Stamford Bridge, but then again no one really has. He’ll need a big end to this season and stellar 2023/24 campaign to work his way back into England’s starting XI.
“Until I am instructed that there is a ban – if there is to be one – then…
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