England are just hours away from opening their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia, but Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane are ready.
The Three Lions enter the tournament having finished runners-up in the previous edition when they lost to Italy on penalties.
A World Cup quarter-final exit to France followed in late 2022 but as with every major competition, there is still a sense of hope.
Southgate is in his eighth year in charge and Euro 2024 could prove to be his toughest test yet.
But when speaking on the eve of their Group C clash against Serbia, live on talkSPORT, he remained positive when looking ahead to the coming weeks.
“Hugely excited. To lead your country into a major tournament is an amazing honour, a great privilege. It’s just as exciting as it was ahead of Russia, if not more so.”
Southgate was then asked about coping with the pressure of being one of the favourites and replied: “You’ve seen Germany play the way they did last night, Spain today.
“There are a lot of good teams in this tournament. We have to be exceptional to progress through the group and the opportunity to go further.
“Our focus is to qualify from the group. When you’re trying to achieve exceptional things you have to break it down into chunks. First priority is to get through the group and work from there.”
Harry Kane’s status as captain only elevates his influence on the team, with the 30-year-old already one of football’s most clinical strikers.
He returns to Germany off the back of a 44-goal debut season at Bayern Munich and with a 2018 World Cup Golden Boot to his name.
And when questioned on his chances of topping the charts once again, he revealed: “Of course I’m really looking forward to this tournament.
“Back in 2018 the Golden Boot was an amazing achievement. We want to win the European Championships and if I win the Golden Boot along the way then I’m obviously helping my team.
“We have some great goal scorers in the team with players in form who have had fantastic seasons. We’re excited to get going tomorrow.”
Kane is still somehow yet to win a major trophy during his career but Euro 2024 offers him an excellent chance to finally change this.
“It would mean lot,” he said on lifting the trophy next month. “I love playing for England. it means the world to me every time I step out on to the pitch wearing the shirt.
“Winning a trophy for your country would be the pinnacle of every career. It hasn’t quite happened yet but it makes me more determined and hungry to go out and do that, starting with this summer.
“We have the opportunity to go out and do that and I’m looking forward to trying to make that happen.”
Kane is not the only England player that fans are set to keep their watchful eyes on, with Jude Bellingham one of football’s biggest and best stars.
The Real Madrid talent scored 23 goals throughout a campaign that saw them win LaLiga, the Champions League and Spanish Super Cup.
And despite being just 20-years-old, Bellingham is still touted as one of the Three Lions’ most important players according to their Serbian opposition.
“He is a great player and one of the biggest talents,” said their captain Dusan Tadic.
“Definitely he will be one of the biggest threats to us, but we will do our best to avoid him and stop him as much as possible.”
Serbia boss Dragan Stojkovic also weighed in on Bellingham when he said: “He’s a future golden ball [Ballon d’Or winner] I think.
“It is impressive what he shows in a Real Madrid jersey, he’s very young but so powerful. We can’t give him too much space or free time to penetrate in the space in front of him.
“He’s a very important player for the English team definitely. It’s very impressive, unbelievable, how he performs for such a very young guy.
“Good for England and bad for us but we will do our best to control this type of situations.”
Serbia secured their spot at Euro 2024 by finishing second in their qualification group behind Hungary and return to the competition after a 24-year absence.
Former Fulham striker and now Al Hilal man Aleksandar Mitrovic is one of their most notable players, as well as fellow forward Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus.
They won’t be easy opposition for England, who also face Denmark and Slovenia in their other Group C matches.
But Southgate will turn up to the Veltins-Arena in the knowledge that all of his 26-man squad are available to play in their opener.
Victory against Serbia will see them not only lay down a marker for the tournament but prove that they’re here to finally win their first trophy since their 1966 World Cup success.
News Summary:
- Harry Kane says Euro 2024 glory is ‘the pinnacle’ as Gareth Southgate demands ‘exceptional’ display from England stars
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.