Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur could pave the way for a successful English campaign at Euro 2016. Roy Hodgson became England manager shortly before Euro 2012 and had little time to think about squad or team selection, with Fabio Capello leaving the post abruptly following a difference of opinion with the FA over John Terry.
However, four years later and the Three Lions Head Coach has his feet firmly under the table, even if the 2014 World Cup campaign didn’t go according to plan.
England were left crumpled in a heap after defeats against Italy and Uruguay during the group stage before a goalless draw with Costa Rica saw them leave Brazil with just a point to show for all their efforts.
Two years ago, there was no Harry Kane to lead the England line. Nor did Dele Alli bear any consideration, with the young midfielder only starting to impress at MK Dons.
Eric Dier had barely played a first-team game for Tottenham, Danny Rose was the fifth-choice right-back for his country and Kyle Walker wasn’t on the plane either.
While Walker is touch and go whether he’ll be part of the England twenty-three man squad for Euro 2016, the former quartet are all guaranteed spots on the plane and their Tottenham team this season has confounded all expectations.
Leicester City rightly hog the headlines in England after a sensational Premier League title success, although the form of Kane and Alli has been phenomenal, with the former getting shortlisted for PFA Player of the Year and the latter winning the Young Player equivalent.
Since Alli made his England bow against France last autumn, scoring a wonderful goal, he has not looked back and his odds have gone from 7/1 to make the Euro 2016 squad all the way down to 2/9 to be part of Roy’s set-up.
Alli makes things happen in a Tottenham shirt. He’s an aggressive tackler, a great passer of the ball and he has an eye for goal. Indeed, the midfielder has scored some wonderful goals for Spurs this season and is the very definition of a box-to-box player.
Kane has enjoyed what was supposed to be a “difficult second season” and has a decent chance of racking up a few goals for England. Bet365 make him the 2/1 favourite on their top England scorer market and he’s likely to be on penalty duties.
If the Tottenham players are enjoying this feel good factor, then what about Jamie Vardy at Leicester, with the former Fleetwood forward having broken a Premier League scoring record this season and helped his team win the title.
Vardy has an infectious way of getting the best out of himself and those around him, while Danny Drinkwater would be unlucky to miss out after some virtuoso performances in the middle of the park.
With the cream of the Leicester and Spurs team joining forces for England duty, perhaps the time is finally right for the Three Lions to make a splash and William Hill offer 8/1 that we see a success in France.
