Recent England goal returns at European Championships
2016 – 4 goals in 4 games
2012 – 5 goals in 4 games
2008 – Didn’t qualify
2004 – 10 goals in 4 games
2000 – 5 goals in 3 games
Since the turn of the millennium, England have not progressed further than the first knockout round in any of the four tournaments they featured in. Their 15 matches in this timeframe were largely limited to the group stage, meaning they faced their fair share of supposedly inferior sides, but returned a modest 1.6 goals per tournament. A figure significantly inflated by the 10-goal exploits at the 2004 edition.
It is a stark reminder then of how much progress has been made under Gareth Southgate that, as we approach crunch time ahead of another major tournament, the Three Lions are not only among the favourites for glory – behind only France – but are considered in some quarters to be the best attacking outfit on show. So, could we finally be about to see an England side deliver on their potential?
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Table of Contents
Goals whoever Southgate turns to?
In 2020/21, Jack Grealish finished with a career-best 16 goal involvements in the English top-flight. Renowned for his ability to induce fouls, the Aston Villa winger ranked third in the Premier League for most number of chances created and big chances created – behind Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne for both metrics – despite missing a large chunk of the season through injury.
Jadon Sancho hit double figures for goals and assists (all comps) for the third season running. Marcus Rashford did so too, for the fourth season in a row, although did display signs of fatigue towards the latter stages. Meanwhile Harry Kane took his all round game to a whole another level, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to simultaneously top the assist and scoring chart.
This is before even touching on the merits of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin who, between them, contributed towards 46 goals and 20 assist for their respective clubs in league competition during 2020/21. Put simply, there are goals spread right throughout this side. With even those waiting in the wings capable of producing if and when called upon.
Assessing England’s Group D opponents
Croatia
14 in FIFA Rankings
Qualifying record: W5 D2 L1, GF17 GA7
Last 4 results vs England: W1 D1 L2, GF4 GA8
Runners-up at the last World Cup. Croatia have not scaled those same heights since, winning 12 of 28 matches having shipped at least one goal in all but five games since losing the biggest fixture in international football almost three years ago. Zlatkoa Dalic’s men recorded a mere two clean sheets from eight Euro 2020 qualifiers, conceding in excess of two a game as the top seeds in a favourable section.
Scotland
44 in FIFA Rankings
Qualifying record: W5 L5, GF16 GA19
Last 4 results vs England: D1 L3, GF5 GA11
Often times, rivalries in football tend to inspire cautious, low-risk encounters, but not so with these two who have produced some thoroughly enjoyable and, surprisingly, end to end matches. England scored, on average, 2.75 goals across the past four meetings with Scotland, who have shipped two or more in seven of the last eight. The Scots would also concede 13 in four games versus Belgium and Russia in qualifying.
Czech Republic
40 in FIFA Rankings
Qualifying record: W5 L3, GF13 GA11
Last 4 results vs England: W1 L3, GF4 GA10
The Czech Republic are familiar foe for Gareth Southgate and England having met during qualification for this tournament. A 5-0 trouncing at Wembley for the Czech was followed by a shock 2-1 victory in Prague for the hosts. Coach Jaroslav Silhavy has also tightened them up considerably from a defensive viewpoint. Either conceding once or keeping a clean sheet in eight of their past nine games up until March.
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Three Lions favourites to outscore the competition?
While it could be argued others – notably Belgium and Spain – have it slightly easier during the initial group phase of the competition, this England side have demonstrated over the last three years how exciting, dazzling, and downright ruthless they can be in the attacking third of the pitch. No team in qualification averaged more goals (4.63) or a better shot conversion (32.2%) than The Three Lions.
That latter figure was seriously impressive, ranking well ahead of next best Belgium whose 19.2% looks modest by comparison. Harry Kane is also bidding to win successive Golden Boots, after top scoring at the 2018 World Cup with six goals. At long last it seems, everything is coming together rather nicely from an England perspective – so much so they may even breeze through a group campaign for once.
England are second favourites in the Tournament Winner market but could instead be worth backing to outscore the field at Euro 2020, which they are 5/1 with Betway to do so.
