England’s £500million spine makes them Euro 2024 favourites as Three Lions bid to end 58 years of hurt

England go into Euro 2024 as one of the favourites and dreaming of going one better than their heartbreaking final defeat to Italy three years ago.

Beaten on penalties in the Euro 2020 final, despite taking an early lead, now is the time for Gareth Southgate’s side to finally live up to their potential.

It’s been 58 years since the Three Lions last won a major trophy – that coming in the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

European glory has continuously eluded England, with the Golden Generation from the 2000s failing to go beyond the quarter-finals.

But there is genuine belief that the current crop of England’s finest can cement themselves as legends – and they certainly have the quality to do it.

Incredibly, their key players boast over a combined £500million value according to transfermarkt, with Jude Bellingham worth a reported £154m, while Bukayo Saka is valued at £102.5m.

Meanwhile Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Phil Foden are all valued at around £94m.

With the first match of Euro 2024 100 days away, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why Southgate’s men can lift the coveted trophy.

Midfield maestros

England arguably boast the best central midfield partnership in Europe with Rice and Bellingham enjoying stunning seasons so far.

The pair were both on the move last summer in £100m-plus deals, with Rice linking up with Arsenal and Bellingham joining Real Madrid.

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And they have been the standout performers in their respective clubs, with Rice registering double figures for goal involvements in the Premier League for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile Bellingham has transcended into a global superstar with the Los Blancos – spearheading Real to the top of LaLiga having chipped in with 20 goals and eight assists in 30 matches in all competitions.

Both midfielders show maturity beyond their years, and look set to be England’s preferred partnership in the middle of the park for the rest of the 2020s.

Make no mistake, if the pair are fit, healthy and on good form heading into Germany, England will all-but certainly win the midfield battle against any opposition.

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World class wingers

It’s not just in midfield where England are blessed with, as Southgate can count on two of Europe’s most in-form wingers.

Arsenal forward Saka, has racked up his best figures for a single season with 16 goals and 15 assists to guide Arsenal into Premier League and Champions League contention.

Meanwhile Foden, whose Manchester City are challenging the Gunners on both the domestic and European front, continues to go from strength to strength.

A five-time Premier League winner at just 23, Foden has fired in 18 times already this term, while registering ten assists.

Much has been said whether the pair are world class, but the stats show they are outperforming their European rivals.

While both players often feature down the right flank, Southgate could opt to deploy Foden on the opposite channel in order to start the duo together.

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Captain fantastic

To complete one of the most fearsome front-threes in international football is none other than England’s all-time leading goalscorer Kane.

Fans in Germany have witnessed the 30-year-old’s lethal prowess in front of goal since he linked up with Bayern Munich last summer in a £100m transfer.

Kane may not end up with a trophy this season with Bayern faltering domestically, but the Tottenham legend has been performing miracles on a weekly basis.

He is currently leading the European Golden Shoe race with 27 league goals and has broken a number of German records along the way.

On course to eclipse Robert Lewandowski’s single season record of 41 strikes, Kane became the quickest player in history to score 17 goals – doing so in just 11 games.

Kane has also scored the most Bundesliga goals for Bayern in their debut season.

A world class finisher in every sense, opposing defenders know the centre-forward needs just a sniff of goal to find the back of the net.

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Upcoming starlets

England may boast a young team full of star-studded named, but they have plenty of rising starlets ready to make their mark if called upon.

Chelsea’s versatile playmaker Cole Palmer has enjoyed a stunning campaign so far having been involved in 24 goals in all competitions.

Aged just 21, the ex-Manchester City man could be a great option to be used off the bench.

Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite has been a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing season for the Toffees, and there is every chance he could force his way into Southgate’s plans.

Should Harry Maguire or John Stones pick up an injury, fans wouldn’t sweat if the 21-year-old replaces either defender.

It should come as no surprise that Real Madrid and Manchester United are admirers of the youngster, which tells you everything about the talent he possesses.

Red Devils midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is another that looks set for a glittering career, with the 18-year-old nailing down a regular starting spot in his breakthrough campaign.

And it has been claimed that such is the FA’s fear of losing him to Ghana, the teenager could be fast-tracked into the England set-up.

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Lack of competition

Besides France, who have reached back-to-back World Cup finals, England should fear no one.

It was France that knocked the Three Lions out of the 2022 World Cup in the quarter-final in a match that could have gone either way.

Hosts Germany have struggled in recent major tournaments and have lost in their last two friendlies against Turkey and Austria.

As for Spain, it remains to be seen whether they have enough in attack, while European Championship holders Italy are going through a transition period.

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead the line for Portugal aged 39, while Belgium have an ageing squad also in the midst of an overhaul.

And Southgate will be hoping his young players have learned from the heartbreak in recent tournaments to get them over the line in Germany.

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