It’s almost home, isn’t it?
There’s still one game to go before England fans can decide whether to celebrate, cry or bunk off work – or all of the above – and, as a nation holds its breath, talkSPORT is looking at the 26 men who have given us something to cheer about.
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Bring it home, lads…
THE GOALKEEPERS
JORDAN PICKFORD (EVERTON)
Age: 27
Caps (goals): 35
Prem games: 145
Just ten months ago, the Sunderland-born stopper had to hire bodyguards when subjected to death threats from fans for injuring Virgil van Dijk.
Now, he’s a hero to millions for repelling almost all attacks on his goal.
Pickford has been exceptional throughout Euro 2020 and nobody can question his selection in the starting XI.
He has kept five clean sheets in six matches and also set an all-time England record for most consecutive scoreless minutes posted by a goalkeeper.
He set the mark of 721 minutes midway through the first half Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark, passing a record previously held by Gordon Banks.
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SAM JOHNSTONE (WEST BROM)
Age: 28
Caps (goals): 1 (0)
Prem games: 37
Harry Kane may have had a few loan spells that didn’t work out before making it at Tottenham, but this guy really has been round the block.
Johnstone had TEN loan spells at seven different clubs in the seven years he was a pro at Manchester United. West Brom decided to give him a chance when they signed him in 2018.
The goalkeeper was a big part of their promotion to the top flight and without his excellent performances they would have been relegated much sooner than they were.
New Baggies boss Valerien Ismael is resigned to losing his star keeper with West Ham and Arsenal among those vying for his signature.
AARON RAMSDALE (SHEFFIELD UNITED)
Age: 23
Caps (goals) 0 (0)
Prem games: 75
After representing the Three Lions throughout the development teams, The Blades goalkeeper got his first senior-call up when he was named in the provisional Euro 2020 squad.
He missed the final cut for Gareth Southgate’s 26-man selection, before being called up to replace the injured Dean Henderson at this summer’s tournament.
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Sheffield United sold Ramsdale to Bournemouth in 2017, but re-signed the goalkeeper for £18.5m from the Cherries such is the impact he made on the south coast, being named the club’s player of the year for the 2019/20 campaign.
Ramsdale is the definition of comeback man and with Arsenal reportedly eyeing up a move for the goalkeeper, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see get his next big move in the not too distant future.
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THE DEFENCE
TYRONE MINGS (ASTON VILLA)
Age: 28
Caps (goals): 13 (0)
Prem games: 86
No Jamie Vardy but there’s a resident non-league to England star in this squad in the form of Mings.
After being let go by Southampton as a youngster for being too small, hard to believe now considering his 6ft 5ins frame, Mings played for Yate Town and Chippenham Town while also holding down two jobs as a mortgage advisor and pulling pints at a pub.
It was tough for him as a child having lived in a homeless shelter with his family, but Mings got a break aged 19 at Championship side Ipswich in September 2012 before getting a move to the Premier League in Bournemouth in August 2015.
He fought his way into the Cherries team, having sustained a long-term injury early on, but he continued to progress and at 26, Mings made his England debut.
The Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria was marred by racial abuse he and his other teammates received. He came out the other side, though, and now is part of a history-making Three Lions.
HARRY MAGUIRE (MAN UNITED)
Age: 28
Caps (goals): 35 (4)
Prem games: 173
‘Slabhead’ has endeared himself to England fans from around the country for his faultless displays at Euro 2020.
He missed the first two games with injury but is now a big contender for the Team of the Tournament having helped England to five clean sheets in six matches.
It’s not always been plane sailing for the Manchester United skipper, though.
He was embroiled in a scandal last year as he was arrested and spent two nights in a prison cell for an alleged altercation on the Greek island of Mykonos last week.
He’s also been subject to fierce criticism with his huge £80m price tag hanging heavily over his shoulders.
Make no mistake, though, Maguire will be an England hero forever if they get the job done in the final.
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LUKE SHAW (MAN UNITED)
Age: 25
Caps (goals): 15 (0)
Prem games: 188
When England played their last major tournament Shaw was behind Ashley Young and Matteo Darmian in the Manchester United pecking order. Now he’s being likened to Roberto Carlos.
Few could have seen Shaw being one of Gareth Southgate’s star men when he was struggling at Old Trafford. Not only was first-team football under Jose Mourinho a rarity, he was made to train on his own by Louis van Gaal and sustained what could have been a life-changing injury in 2015 when he broke his leg – the player later saying he could have lost his limb as a result.
Shaw is now a vibrant world beater and has been the tournament’s standout left-back, providing three assists thus far.
When Shaw got a call-up for England’s 2014 World Cup squad, it was felt he’d make that position his own for years to come. He hasn’t done that until now but wow it has been worth the wait for ‘Shawberto Carlos.’
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KYLE WALKER (MAN CITY)
Age: 31
Caps (goals): 60 (0)
Prem games: 316
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Walker scurrying back and snuffing out any danger of an opponent getting in behind England.
Whether he’s at right-back or on the right of a back three, the Manchester City star is the one to mop up any developing attacks from the opposition thanks to his searing pace.
Since joining City in the summer of 2017 not a lot went wrong for him on the pitch but the first lockdown in 2020 proved to be a particularly testing time. Mistakes were made on his part, although it later emerged he’d been battling issues surrounding his mental health.
Despite that, there were increasing calls for Southgate to give up on the versatile star. If the manager was inclined to listen to the mob, it would have been easy for him to turn his back on Walker – right-back is where the competition is fiercest in the England squad, after all.
But Walker, who resembles a greyhound when in full flight on the pitch, has shown at Euro 2020 there’s plenty of life in this dog.
REECE JAMES (CHELSEA)
Age: 21
Caps (goals) 7 (0)
Prem games: 56
‘He’s one of our own’ the Chelsea fans chant in support of Reece James. The young defender’s meteoric rise from the Blues academy to a first-team star has coincided with his emergence on the national scene as well.
James rose to prominence during a loan spell at Wigan in the 2018/19 campaign and remained confident he would forge his way into Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team.
It could have all been so different. Reece was 17 when he was involved in a serious car accident on the A3. He somehow walked away from the crash with just a graze on his knee and his vehicle written off.
Reece, whose father Nigel runs a successful coaching academy, is not the only member of the family who is a talented footballer with his sister Lauren also starring for club and country.
Funnily enough Chelsea have been showing a strong interest in the Manchester United Women’s forward. Now that would be a great family reunion…
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BEN WHITE (BRIGHTON)
Age: 23
Caps (goals): 2 (0)
Prem games: 36
Ben White has enjoyed an unbelievable rise in the past two years.
While was relatively unknown at Brighton before joining Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds on a season-long loan in 2019. He played every league game as they ended their 16-year exile from the Premier League.
The defender then returned to Brighton to make 36 appearances in his debut season in the top-flight.
His form was rewarded with an England call-up as he made Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man Euro 2020 squad due to an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
White’s greatest asset is his ability to play in multiple positions, including centre-half, right-back and defensive midfield.
From being rejected at Southampton to being linked with £50million moves to Arsenal and Chelsea, that is not bad going for White.
CONOR COADY (WOLVES)
Age: 28
Caps (goals) 5 (1)
Prem games: 114
The cheeky chappy knows all about leading his country to glory, having captained England Under-17s to the UEFA U17 European Championship in 2010.
Coady also played alongside Harry Kane and John Stones at the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, with the midfielder-turned-defender featuring regularly for the Young Lions in the earlier stages of his career.
He left boyhood club Liverpool in a bid to secure more playing time, spending time at Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town before signing for Wolves in 2015. And what a journey that been for Coady, who is adored by the Molineux faithful.
Coady is a stalwart for his club side, with his experience and know-how something Gareth Southgate very much wanted in his England squad as they search for Euro 2020 glory.
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KIERAN TRIPPIER (ATLETICO MADRID)
Age: 30
Caps (goals) 32 (1)
Prem games: 107
Trippier was the man who had the nation dreaming of World Cup glory in 2018, with his stunning free-kick in the semi-final against Croatia ultimately coming in vain as the Three Lions suffered a devastating extra-time defeat.
The former Burnley and Tottenham defender, who was named in the team of the tournament that year and it hasn’t gone too shabbily at Atletico Madrid, whom he joined in 2019.
Trippier is referred to as ‘Rooney’ in the Atletico dressing room, with Diego Costa giving the full-back the nickname because he is the only English player in the squad.
He just won LaLiga and Trippier could well have another major trophy to add to his collection very soon…
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JOHN STONES (MAN CITY)
Age: 27
Caps (goals): 47 (2)
Prem games: 184
The Barnsley-born defender’s career has been chock with many highs and lows.
He famously was brought to tears after being abused by Everton fans for his move to Man City.
Stones struggled in his opening seasons at the Etihad and was left in the football wilderness for both club and country in the years that followed the 2018 World Cup.
His recent revival, however, has been tremendous.
An imperious performer for City as they sealed the title, Stones is now a truly world class player, delivering both at club level and on the international stage.
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BEN CHILWELL (CHELSEA)
Age: 24
Caps (goals): 14 (0)
Prem games: 126
It’s been far from an ideal tournament for the Chelsea left-back.
He hasn’t played a single minute due to Luke Shaw’s brilliance, and was also forced to quarantine for ten days with Mason Mount after coming into close contact with Blues teammate Billy Gilmour following the Scotland game.
But Chilwell will not care as he could be a Euro and Champions League winner by the time the summer is over.
And it’s just what the 24-year-old deserves as he hasn’t always be in the happiest frame of mind.
Chilwell urged people suffering to speak out about their problems as he revaled issues with his mental health last year.
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THE MIDFIELD
JUDE BELLINGHAM (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)
Age: 18
Caps (goals) – 7(0)
Bundesliga games: 29
Bellingham was just 17 when he was picked by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2020 – and nobody raised an eyebrow because he is just that good.
The midfielder, who only turned 18 last month, burst onto the scene with Birmingham aged just 16 and was a standout star in the Championship.
Manchester United and Dortmund came calling last summer and he opted for the latter on an initial £25million deal – and lit up the Bundesliga last season.
The midfielder became the youngest ever player to feature at a European Championship when he came on against Croatia (17 years and 349 days), but that record lasted just six days when it was broken by Kacper Kozlowski.
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KALVIN PHILLIPS (LEEDS)
Age: 25
Caps (goals): 14(0)
Prem games: 29(1)
Phillips is Leeds through and through. Marcelo Bielsa has turned him into a machine in the heart of the midfield and Leeds fans had been raving about him for years, and we are all seeing what they were talking about.
His late grandmother Val is well known among fans and players having shot to fame in a behind the scenes documentary about the club.
The 25-year-old has always spoken about the influence that ‘Granny Val’ had on his career and he paid tribute to her after helping his side reach the final of Euro 2020.
Phillips has been one of the unexpected stars of the tournament, forming a formidable partnership with Declan Rice in the side – and keeping out both Henderson and Bellingham.
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JORDAN HENDERSON (LIVERPOOL)
Age: 31
Caps (goals): 63 (1)
Prem games: 361
Henderson was arguably Southgate’s most controversial inclusion in his Euro 2020 squad because he had not played a match since injuring his groin in February.
Many believed Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse should have been picked ahead of the Liverpool captain due to the former’s set-piece ability.
However, Southgate’s decision has been justified. Henderson is yet to start a match at Euro 2020, but has had an impact in his four substitute appearances and undoubtedly off the pitch as well.
Henderson even scored his first ever England goal with a fine header in the 4-0 win over Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
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DECLAN RICE (WEST HAM)
Age: 22
Caps (Goals) : 23 (1)
Prem games: 197
Declan Rice had his heart broken at the age of 14 when he was released by boyhood club Chelsea, a decision which has come back to haunt the Blues ever since.
The centre-half was wanted by plenty of clubs in London, yet it was the Claret and Blue of West Ham which he donned next and has done so with distinction ever since.
He’s had his setbacks yet every one of them has been a learning curve and the 22-year-old has since established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and is now the vice-captain of the Irons.
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Rice has formed a solid partnership in midfield with Phillips and the duo have already marshalled Luka Modric, club colleague Tomas Soucek and Toni Kroos.
Should the West Ham man manage to repeat the feat against Marco Verratti and Co at Wembley, there will be few who could deny the boy from Kingston his rightful place amongst the very best in the world.
THE ATTACK
RAHEEM STERLING (MAN CITY)
Age: 26
Caps (goals): 67 (17)
Prem games: 290
Take the 182 bus through Wembley and you’ll see cages filled with dreamers playing in view of the famous arch, just like Raheem Sterling did. It’s tattooed on his arm.
There was a time when all we read about the 26-year-old centred around his tattoos and other ways he chooses to spend his money, but not anymore.
The Boy From Brent represents everything we love about football: its ability to transform lives and create heroes out of humble, working class kids.
Sterling inspires both on and off the pitch, but it wasn’t the dazzling brilliance we’ve witnessed at Euro 2020 which earned him an MBE.
That would be his leadership in the fight for racial equality. Come to think of it, Sir Raheem Sterling has quite a nice ring to it.
MASON MOUNT (CHELSEA)
Age: 22
Caps (goals): 20 (4)
Prem games: 73
It is crazy to think England and Chelsea fans were questioning Southgate and Frank Lampard for constantly including Mount in their starting XIs less than a year ago.
It unfairly gave the midfielder the ‘Teacher’s Pet’ tag, despite his consistent displays.
Mount did not let the criticism get to him, though, and has further improved his game under Thomas Tuchel.
He helped Chelsea win the Champions League last season and has been a vital cog in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final.
Mount will be one of the first names on the team sheet when England take on Italy at Wembley this weekend.
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DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (EVERTON)
Age: 24
Caps (goals): 11 (4)
Prem games: 147
Calvert-Lewin may not be able to get a sniff at Euro 2020, but he’s no stranger to being overlooked.
His rise to prominence wasn’t preceded by any kind of hype or ‘wonderkid’ narrative. He was, sort of, just there all of a sudden.
With 29 goals in his last two top-flight campaigns, that scrawny kid who arrived at Everton from the Sheffield United academy in 2017 is now a physical powerhouse with an astonishing leap, capable of scoring all types of goals – and at an alarming rate.
It’s a testament to England’s remarkable strength in depth that a player probably worth north of £50million can’t even get in the matchday squad.
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HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM)
Age: 27
Caps (goals): 60(38)
Prem games: 245(166)
Although a lifelong Tottenham fan, Kane spent a year in Arsenal’s academy when he was eight before being released for being ‘a bit chubby’ and ‘not very athletic’.
He has gone on to prove that was a mistake by becoming one of the best strikers in world football for both club and country.
Kane’s ascension to the first-team was not so straight forward, though, as he had loans at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester.
The striker is a three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, 2018 World Cup winner and is just one behind Cristiano Ronaldo for the Euro 2020 prize.
Kane will be hoping it is fourth time lucky in finals, losing in two League Cup finals and the Champions League final in his career so far.
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MARCUS RASHFORD (MAN UNITED)
Age: 23
Caps (goals): 45(12)
Prem games: 179(55)
Rashford is an electric attacker, but did you know he started out as a goalkeeper and idolised Tim Howard as a child?
He was just 18 when he made his debut for the club and is already approaching nearly 300 appearances and a century of goals, as well as establishing himself as a fan favourite.
The Man United star has made headlines off the pitch too with his campaign work, calling on the UK government to end child poverty and to extend the free school meal voucher scheme.
He was made an MBE last year and his campaigning has even drawn praise from the likes of Barack Obama.
If you thought he couldn’t get any more of a hero, he sent a nine-year-old charity fundraiser a PS5 as a reward for his incredible work recently.
Rashford has yet to start a game at Euro 2020 and has had to settle for four substitute appearances.
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BUKAYO SAKA (ARSENAL)
Age: 19
Caps (Goals) : 8 (1)
Prem games: 59
With four A*’s and three A’s at GCSE level, it is no surprise to learn Bukayo Saka is as bright off the pitch as he is on it.
Saka’s father is a mad Newcastle United fan and grew up idolising Alan Shearer, yet the 19-year-old is currently inspiring an entire generation on his own with his spectacular performances for England at Euro 2020.
The teenager is managing to keep Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish out of Gareth Southgate’s starting XI at the tournament and his bravery on the ball and direct style of play make him a menace for defenders.
As a player who makes few poor choices (on and off the pitch) Saka has shown incredible versatility for both club and country and could even fill in at left-back when called upon.
For now, the teenager who grew up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo and is affectionately referred to as ‘Little Chilli’ by Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is spearheading England’s attack and will play a pivotal role in Sunday’s final.
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PHIL FODEN (MAN CITY)
Age: 21
Caps (goals): 8 (2)
Prem games: 69
Hair like Gazza and a once-in-a-generation talent to match.
Like a robot built in a Manchester City laboratory, the Stockport Iniesta joined his boyhood club aged four and got a free private education from them.
Perhaps his biggest lesson was learned last year, when he was sent home from international duty in Iceland for inviting girls back to his hotel room along with Mason Greenwood despite strict COVID restrictions.
Under Southgate, a fierce disciplinarian but also man who knows all about rising up from rock bottom, there is always a way back – and Foden’s story represents a squad built in their manager’s image.
Nevertheless, despite being the first name on one of the greatest team sheets in Europe, good enough to walk into any team in world football, he can’t get in Southgate’s England.
But with enough ability to become a future Ballon d’Or winner, there is so much more to come for Foden and England.
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JACK GREALISH (ASTON VILLA)
Age: 25
Caps (goals): 11 (0)
Prem games: 95
From Ireland prodigy to England poster boy, there is an unrivalled clamour for Grealish in this country.
The subject of more chants and column inches than any player in the squad over the last month, Grealish attracts obsession with his unique style of play.
Able to dance through opposition players, often the only way to stop him is to chop him down.
His life outside football has been equally unpredictable, at times littered with trouble and misbehaviour but better in recent years, and his personality matches the maverick talent.
It’s exciting, it’s why people love football, but it’s not what England need right now, hence his role as impact sub.
If they need a moment of inspiration against Italy, there is nobody more likely to make themselves a hero.
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JADON SANCHO (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)
Age: 21
Caps (Goals) : 21 (3)
Prem games: N/A
When Jadon Sancho was asked by a Watford academy coach what he wanted to achieve from football, the then-13 year old was certain about his answer.
“The dream is to play for one of Europe’s top clubs and to play for my country and make my family proud.”
The Borussia Dortmund winger, who will join Manchester United after the conclusion of Euro 2020, has been making his family proud ever since moving to Germany from Manchester City.
After scoring five times on his debut for City’s Under-16 side, it appeared both he and Phil Foden were destined to tear teams apart at domestic and international level. Unfortunately, it has not yet manifested.
Southgate has used the 21-year-old sparingly at the tournament thus far, with the street footballer from Kennington in south London showcasing his silky skills to devastating effect against Ukraine.
If the future Man United man is given the opportunity to run the Italian defence ragged on Sunday, it will underline just how right that ambitious teenager was all those years ago.
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