Euro 2024: ‘England to win! I think some people are having a joke!' - William Gallas

Euro 2024: ‘England to win! I think some people are having a joke!' - William Gallas

 

Former Chelsea and Arsenal superstar William Gallas does not feel England can win the European Championship under Gareth Southgate as he doubts the manager's credentials.

The Three Lions boast of having one of the strongest squads on paper at Euro 2024 and are widely considered favourites to bag the European Championship and end their 58-year-old trophy drought in Germany.

Gallas, however, does not believe that this English side, under Southgate's tutelage, can win the trophy. The former France international also doubted the English coach's credentials as he felt some better managers could have taken charge of the team.

While speaking to Prime Casino, Gallas said: "(Laughs) England are the favourites? (laughs) I think some people are having a joke! Come on. Do you seriously think England are going to win it?"

 Gallas then added: "I have my doubts about the central defensive partnership of John Stones and Marc Guehi. I’m not sure if that is a partnership that will be strong enough to progress deep into the competition, and the back four doesn’t look like it will be strong enough to become European champions. Left-back is a problem. Luke Shaw is still injured, and we saw what happens when you play a right-footed player at left-back. It disrupts your balance on that side of the pitch. People say that he will be ready for the knock-out rounds, but it’s a big gamble to expect a player who has been injured to be ready to play at this level. Against Serbia, England won, and they kept a clean sheet, but when you play against a stronger team, I think that the defence is going to be in trouble.

"He (Southgate) has to prove that he can win. That is a big challenge for any manager, but maybe even bigger for the England manager because of the pressure that surrounds the job and the expectations of the team from the fans. Sadly, I don’t think he is going to do it. I don’t think the England squad is good enough to win the European Championships this year. Outside of England, everyone respects him for what he has done with England, but I don’t think he’s the best manager that England could appoint. I think there are more talented managers out there who could have lifted trophies with this England team."

Meanwhile, Southgate's side will hope to make it two wins in a row and book their berth in the round of 16 stage as they next face Denmark on Thursday.