Euro 2020 Power Ranking: Assessing the leading sides

Euro 2020 Power Ranking continued...

2. France

France v Ukraine - FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Qualifier

Ahead of Euro 2020, world champions France have some of the finest talent in the game available to them and boast a pool of players bristling with quality throughout their ranks. Moreover, they have a highly experienced coach in Didier Deschamps and go to Euro 2020 looking to repeat the World Cup-European Championship double they managed in 2000.

Traditionally, it has been difficult for a team to follow up World Cup success by winning the subsequent Euros, but Spain have done it since Les Bleus first achieved it. Now Deschamps is aiming to do it both as player and coach.

When France won in Russia, it was a success greeted with modest acclaim. Croatia had been many neutrals’ favourites heading into the final due to the pragmatic way that Deschamps had set his side up in. Having played much more attractively at Euro 2016 only to lose out to a defensive Portuguese outfit, Deschamps realised that this solidity was key to being a strong tournament team.

At Euro 2020, Deschamps will attempt to forge the squad atmosphere he managed at the World Cup.

Despite having Kylian Mbappe, one of the great weapons of modern day football, France are not a side that score many goals or generate much excitement. What they do, however, is win games and that will make them very dangerous at Euro 2020.

1. England

England v Poland - FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Qualifier

England have never won the European Championship but at Euro 2020, the stars may just align for the Three Lions.

Crucially in this international tournament, they will play all their matches at Wembley, which is an immense advantage that should not go unnoticed. Moreover, all the key stages of Euro 2020 will be played out in London. Should England reach the latter stages of the competition, this should give them a significant leg up.

Moreover, manager Gareth Southgate has a wealth of depth in his options throughout the team, aided by the emergence of stars such as Jack Grealish and Mason Mount over the course of the last 18 months. His biggest problem may be finding a formula that suits them the best.

One man who promises to be absolutely central to England’s hopes at Euro 2020 is Harry Kane, who is now up to 34 international goals. Beyond the Tottenham striker, there is arguably a lack of goals in the squad.

Indeed, only Raheem Sterling has more than five in the recent group brought together by Southgate. Marcus Rashford is the only other viable option and the Manchester United man is out of form right now.

England may be top of this power ranking, but the race for Euro 2020 is an open one and much could happen between now and June, when the tournament begins.