England manager Gareth Southgate and his players start their Euro 2020 campaign this weekend with the Group D clash with Croatia. Southgate leads the Euro 2020 quest for England who have not won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup. The England fans have waited for several decades without any joy and the wait goes on.
England are one of the four favouritesfor Euro 2020 according to former skipper Wayne Rooney via The Times and they are favourites for their opening game against Croatia according to the soccer betting odds from various soccer betting sites. England fans won’t forget 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in a hurry after they were denied a spot at Euro 2008 by the Croatians. Former England manager Steve McClaren failed to qualify England for Euro 2008 courtesy the 3-2 home defeat to Croatia in their last qualifying match for the tournament.
Apart from England, Rooney says world champions France, European champions Portugal and Belgium are also favourites.
England are also the favouritesfor their second game in Group D against home nations rivals Scotland next week Friday according to the soccer betting odds via the several soccer betting sites world-wide. Their final group game is against an improving Czech Republic team on Tuesday, June 22.
England have played two warm-up games ahead of the Croatia game on Sunday but they were far from impressive. They defeated Austria 1-0 at home last week thanks to the second half strike from utility player Bukayo Saka after good work from Harry Kane and Jack Grealish. England repeated the same 1-0 scoreline for the second game against Romania at home courtesy the second half penalty from Marcus Rashford. The two matches were played at the Riverside Stadium in the northeast.