Euro 2016 Preview - England

Team: England

Manager: Roy Hodgson

Group: Group B

Other teams in group: Russia, Wales & Slovakia.

THE SQUAD

The English will go into this tournament with their usual hope and high expectations to perform but maybe this time around it is a bit more merited. This merit comes from the performances of some of the young English stars both for country and club over the past season.

The likes of Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Eric Dier have been a force over the past twelve months as they all played a major part in Tottenham pushing Leicster close to the Premier League title. John Stones and Raheem Sterling will be some of the other member of the young contingent hoping to shine.

There is also the emergence of this year's Premier League Champions' top goalscorer, Jamie Vardy. The Yorkshire man has been absolutely excellent this season and will want to prove it wasn’t a once off by continuing his rich vain of form.

Over the last while there has been much  talk of Wayne Rooney’s inclusion in the team. But as captain, top goalscorer and his sheer quality on the pitch he will be a key player come June. The more experienced players like Rooney, Gary Cahill, Joe Hart, etc. will be key if this young England side are to succeed. 

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), James Milner (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

HOW THEY GOT HERE 

England’s route to the Euro 2016 finals was one of relative ease as they were drawn in a qualifying group which they would have been really pleased with. They breezed past the footballing minnows of San Marino and Lithuania, scoring 18 goals without reply in the 4 games between the two sides. 

Their most difficult tests were to come against Switzerland and Slovenia. It was the latter of the two that caused the biggest problem as England trailed in both fixtures, albeit only for a short amount of time. They were still strong enough to overcome Slovenia 3-1 in Wembley and 3-2 in Ljubljana, thanks to a late Wayne Rooney strike.

The Three Lions finished their campaign with a formidable record of ten wins from tem, only conceding 3 goals in the process while putting 31 past their opponents. It might be due to this comfortable path that Hodgson has tried to face more of the elite countries in the friendlies they have had since qualifying. They have had tough encounters with the likes of Spain, Germany and France since.  

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING AND STAYING

11th June: England v Russia - Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

16th June: England v Wales - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens Agglo

20th June: Slovakia v England - Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne

England will be based in the French town Chantilly, which is just north of Paris. They are staying in the luxurious Auberge de Jeu Paume hotel and they will be using the Stade des Bourgognes for training. 

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

England's best performance in the European Championship came 20 years ago on home soil when they reached the semi-final stage, eventually losing out to Germany on penalties.

England are the only team from Europe to have won the World Cup but not won the European Championships.

This is also the 50th anniversary since England’s only major tournament win, when they won the World Cup in 1966.

THEIR RECENT FORM

England 2-1 Turkey

England 2-1 Australia

England 1-0 Portugal

First game: 11th June vs Russia KO 21.00 (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille).