Is Bellingham The Answer? | Stick to Football Euro 2024 Special

Who's the winner of the tournament? I'll go with France. Of course you will. It doesn't... All right. Denmark. Favourite German city? I'm saying Dusseldorf. You're going to Dusseldorf? I'm going to have to stagger, we've still got the group chat. I'm on stage in that group chat! England's route to a final. You're already in the final. Take that away! Right. It's like The Jumper. Oh, this is Christmas. Damn! What have we here? We've sticked to football. And a happy new year. Yes, this is... Why am I singing that now? I know. Oh, this is Christmas. It's a nice... I like that. What have we here? We're always getting no presents. No one's getting presents. For another year. Is that true, that, by the way, the presents? Yes, it is. Roy, I feel a bit sad about it. What's sad about it? Christmas for children. You wake up on Christmas Day and you don't have that little bit of moment. I look at my wife and children and I think that's the best present a man can get. Oh, it's a beautiful thing. You've got that now. It's a beautiful thing. You touch me deeply. But this is the week after, isn't it? Hey, Gary, you saw I was going home early from the Christmas do's, remember? No, I didn't. Oh, you did! Oh, my God. I was there till the end. Roy, you might not have heard this story. That night when you got up, I was there. Steve Bruce told me, you never leave anyone. And Ferguson told us on the Tuesday, you never leave anybody. I never left till the end. What, the first thing? Because, you know, when you were drinking, Gary was like... No, no. He's a tipper. I'm not a tipper. You seen me in the World Cup. Stayed after you lot. No. Stayed after you lot at the World Cup in Qatar at the ITV, do you remember? Yeah, I remember that, yeah. Right. Thanks, bro. Oh, of course you can. Did you get the jumper in? Cheeky Nando's. Thank you. Cheeky Nando's? You can't just have a Nando's. I love cheeky Nando's. Cheeky Nando's? Were you having a Nando's? No. I'm having a cheeky Nando's. Will you be doing the Euros this summer or not? No, but I'm actually... James wants to go and watch a couple of games. So, I'm just actually trying to sort out. I'll just go to a few games. The Euros seem like 10 years away. I know. It's not. It's coming. It's coming fast, baby. This week on Stick to Football, we're going to be doing a Euro 24 draw special brought to you by EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5, and we're going to be discussing all things England. Can England do it this time? Can they finally get over the line under Gareth Southgate, the other home nations, and who is going to win the tournament? Right. It's Christmas time, but the Euro draw was last week, and we'll all be there next summer. Feels like a long way away, but what initially stands out and excites you about the draw? I like Group B because I've got a lot of Albanian mates, and we know that Spain, Italy, Croatia, when they get into the tournament, they do stuff. They get there. They get to finals. The tournament, yeah. And I think that Albania, and of course they've got Silvino, who used to be Arsenal's manager, so I think that that group has got a lot of excitement about it. It feels like almost like a Champions League, you know, where you get really excited for the knockout games. And I go back, obviously I'm a user older than me, but remember when the Euros used to just be eight teams, or like it went to 16, and I always think that was the best football tournament anywhere the Euros then. So it almost feels like, yeah, you know, it's the Euros, it'll be good, but it just feels like the knockout stages when it'll really come alive. Germany are not even doing well at the minute. They're not doing great, but like, are they going to... Are you writing them off? I feel like I'm... Righty's just written them off. I feel like I'm writing Germany off. No, it's last draw. That's it. Who is in a good place? Who's in a good place at the moment? England. We are. Who do you think can stop England winning that? France. But that's it. Spain. I think it'll be Spain. You think? Yeah. I think only Portugal and France. Yeah. Maybe. England's route to a final could potentially take on Italy, France in the semi, and Germany, Portugal or Spain in the final. You're already in the final. Take that away! Take it away! Jesus Christ, they've won it. No, it's... It's the final. Listen, you know something? It's not just because... Well, be careful of the group stuff. You know this idea that England is going to course through that group? No, we should... You know what? They should get over it, obviously. Yes. But, you know what? No, no, no. We've got tournament experience now. That's the thing. We should be getting through that group, no problem. Of course. Right? But... And we know how to get through the next... Denmark. Denmark are no mogs. Ian, I agree with you. I think we have got tournament experience. Do you think there is an element... I don't know if this does exist. I'm not sure. I'm asking the question. Do you think there is tournament scars from this group? As in, we should have done it in 2018 in Russia. We had Croatia in the semi-final. We got to the final against Italy at Wembley. Oh, my God. We were there. It was 1-0 up. And then in the last tournament, they played really well. Obviously, Harry missed the penalty, but they played well against France. They were probably the better team in performance terms. Do you think there is an element of them thinking tournament experience, we're on our way to win it? Or do you think there is an element of, we're ******* never going to do this. We've had our best chances already. I think Italy was a massive chance for us at home with the way we were playing. Didn't get that done. But I think that the way, what we've got going forward, obviously, defensively, we're going to have to sort out what we're going to do about the centre-halves and how we're going to play. But we have got more than enough to take from those experiences, I think, to push through. Yeah, they should have belief. I think that's what it comes... I think... They certainly shouldn't be lacking anything, that they can go and win this. We need to get a couple of centre-halves through. We need stones fit. Obviously, he has a lot of injury problems, but I actually think the feeling will be, and I think with Bellingham sort of 18 months on from the World Cup, you're going into it with arguably the best player in the world right now. Who knows what we're like in the summer, but you know France have got Mbappé, and we've got sort of Kane as one, but Bellingham, you look at them thinking, when you think of the teams that have won trophies at international level, there's always that sort of one player who feels like he's the best player in the world, or certainly they're about it. It just feels like Bellingham's that good a player, you can feel like he's going to get a hold of a tournament and just get England across the line. You look at the lads who have had a few moves, obviously Maguire is back in the team, the spine of the team, Bellingham's world-class, obviously. Rice has got his big move, he's obviously doing well at Arsenal. Kane's had his move, it's almost freshened him up. I think England are in a great place. I know I'm locking up in the next few months, injuries of course, I think I said that for any of the teams, but there shouldn't be any sort of lack of belief in England. I think this is England's best chance because I think we've got the two best players in the team, we've got Bellingham, there's just almost one end of his career, and Harry Kane's at the other. And I just think in another two years, where would Harry Kane be in terms of the World Cup? Would he still be seen as one of the best strikers in the world? He would be what, would he be then 33 or something? I just feel as if it's time now. Now or never? I think it might be because of Kane, because I think Kane's that good. You need obviously four or five, maybe three or four world-class players, and I think England probably do have that. And I just think if Kane just wasn't the same in two years' time, that's a big... But the danger is, we're talking about here, and we know football is not that simple, you look at the group you've got. They're in a great place, these all players are in their primes, Bellingham, they've got World Cup. So then you have this, as if it's bound to happen, this is bound to peak for us in the summer. You go, it doesn't work out that way. You need a bit of luck, don't you? Yeah, a little bit of luck, of course. But they certainly have players available to certainly be a huge threat for this tournament. It's the most positive, though, in the past when you've talked before a tournament, we've all thought we could potentially win. You've always been sort of like... I heard it go again, yeah. Yeah, but I think that's the most positive I've ever heard you speak about England winning a tournament, potentially. Yeah, I think so. I think it's one of the biggest things the players have available if they're fit come the summer. Two to three of the players have had big moves and they look like they're in a good place and the group, yeah, they should get out of it, but obviously, again, it's not as simple as that, the way you look at it on paper, but the players they have available, Garrett must be. The attacking players, obviously, you want one or two of your players fit, Stones, Maguire's back in the team, yeah. A lot of pluses. Definitely, yeah, they're a great chance. This special UEFA Euro 2024 draw episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5. With the draw now complete and the finals coming next year, EA Sports FC24 are celebrating this moment with a very special offer this Christmas, where you can play FC24 now and get a special UEFA Euro 2024 item in the game for your ultimate team, including Jack Grealish and Virgil van Dijk. The FC24 holiday offer will harness all the energy and excitement for UEFA Euro 2024, so play EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5 now and get ready for when the tournament comes to FC24 next year. Thanks again to FC24 on PlayStation 5 for sponsoring this episode of Stick to Football. Let's just look at the top part of the pitch, which is, to be fair, absolutely, we're rich in that place, but you can't see past Saka on the right, can you, playing on the right? You can't see past Kane, you can't see past Declan Rice, you can't see past Bellingham, they're all four going to play, you would say, if they're fit and all's well. Those other two positions, where are you on the left? You've got Rashford, you've got Foden, you've got Grealish, I was going to mention, you've got Raheem Sterling at this moment in time. Gareth doesn't normally about-turn, does he, when he's made a decision, and he's done it before where we've sat there, so why has he not got him in, and then he's just not brought him back? Why? What's the reason? I don't know. I don't know myself. I sometimes usually get feedback from Gareth, did he miss a couple of games, did he miss, did he pull out of a couple of games last year, was there a reason? Something usually with Gareth, it's not just about football, it's usually about something else. That's my point. Because football-wise, he's playing well. Surely he's got enough credit in the bank with Gareth Ware, he's played for England, he's not played many bad games. Well, the last tournament he played him, didn't he? Yeah. So you'd think that, even if that was the case, surely you're going to understand from Gareth's point of view, you know what, he's an experienced player, he's never let me down, he just wants to focus on the Chelsea move, massive move, you know, he's starting to start to see some green shoes for him at Chelsea, but why would he hold that against him? I'm fine, it's Baff here, he's not England. Would you start Raheem over Rashford, Foden and Grealish? Would you? Yeah. With the experience and the way he's playing, absolutely. Would you? I think that player, I rule Grealish out of playing, just because of the fact that when you've got Harry Kane, he's always coming towards the ball, so I think these two in the wide position have got to be players who penetrate, and I think Grealish is different, I'm not saying he couldn't play some of the games, so for me it's either be a Rashford or a Sterling because of that point, so Sack has make him runs, Harry Kane's going to be So it's a centre forward goal scorer, or somebody who runs behind, basically. Add one pace in the wide age, because the team's built around Harry Kane in some ways, so you need to sort of supplement him, and that's why I'd be looking at a Rashford or a Sterling. Someone who could come to us out of the pack who's not there yet, is probably an Anthony Gordon, who he has got blistering pace, now whether he wants to bring someone in who's not really been in the squad before, lack of experience. You do need that surprise, don't you? Yeah, yeah. I think he's the one on that left position where... He tracks back as well, doesn't he? He gets back. He knows the position with Eddie Howe as I'm going back. He tracks back. That's his job. So who are you picking on the left? You're going Raheem? I'll probably go with Raheem. Depending on how Anthony Gordon continues to go, but I'm picking Raheem. Who are you picking on the left? Yeah, I wouldn't be against Sterling. Gone in there. Absolutely not. I think Gareth will pick Rashford. I think he's got that spot at the minute. I'll go back to something I said in the last tournament. I think for England not to pick Phil Foden in the start of XI is a crime. Yeah, that's true. It's a crime. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think to have a player of that talent and ability... Where? I'm putting him on the left, because Pep sometimes plays him there. I think he can put those balls in for Kane with his left foot. I'm not saying it's his best position, but I just think... I'd have Foden in there, if you were talking about Rashford and Sterling. But I wouldn't be disappointed if you see Sterling in there, don't get me wrong. But again, it's hard to leave Foden out of the team. So you would play Foden with Bellingham and Rice in midfield, would you? I think so, yeah. He could do that. I think you could play that. Would Trent not play in there? I was thinking about this, and I said this the other day, because I think the one area where England are weak, we're talking about being on the left really strong, and maybe right back really strong. I think where we're really weak is almost central midfield. Jordan Henderson's a lot older now, he's playing in Saudi Arabia. Calvin Phillips is not playing. There's not that many, I would say, top central midfield players. You've got Declan Rice, who I absolutely love. I think he's as good as anyone in that role. I actually think you could look at Trent in that position. That's where he plays for England. Staying there, or going back out to right wing? No, no, no, not that. Just kind of walk his right back. Just almost sort of sit along, maybe a little bit higher than Declan Rice. And Bellingham's doing his thing. But you've just got Trent there just making passes. And controlling the game from there. I just think, as you say with Foden, I think Trent's ability on the ball is that good that you're almost, you don't have to find a position for him, but it's not really his true position. I think that's where he will eventually go to, in midfield. But I think I'd go with Trent because it doesn't feel like there's too many other options anyway. I'd worry about him though, against the France or Spain. In terms of the defending or on the ball? Not on the ball, his knowledge. Just his knowledge, his know-how in there. So who would you play? To be honest with you, I'm struggling with it a little bit myself because I think that is the one position, that midfield position, I think. If we go with Declan Rice and Bellingham as a two, it becomes too open, we can't. So we do need someone in there who's going to, to be fair, the other one's Conor Gallagher, who's obviously played, but he's a runner. No, I don't think he's good enough. No. I don't think he's good enough. But who goes in there? It's either got to be Foden against a team like, say, let's say we think... Foden can play in there, couldn't he? Yeah. But can he, against the top teams, when we're looking to, do you just go and play? I mean, do you literally just go and say, right, Declan, you're going to sit there, Bellingham and Foden, and then you've got, obviously, front three, whoever that is, on that left-hand side. That's pretty impressive. Foden, Bellingham in front of Rice. That's what the fans would want, I think. And then maybe Rashford or Grealish or Sterling on the left. Not bad options. You could argue for all these different players. If Foden's playing in the mid, then I would definitely have Sterling on the left, depending on Rashford's form now. And like we say with Andy Gordon, Andy Gordon, if he carries on doing what he's doing, he probably should get a shout. If England could take one player out of any other team that you would then think could take them from being sort of, could win it, to they'll win it, what position would that be and who would that player be? I'd say probably a centre-back. I think centre-back. I'd take Saliba. You know, he's on a bench for France, for crying out loud. It's unbelievable what they've got. They're so stacked. I'd take Saliba. I still have issues with the goalkeeper, I do. I can't shake that off for England. I think he's been pretty good for England. I know he has, Gary. I know, but in terms of just the last bit, I just... Seems like everybody's waiting for the mistake. Who would you bring in for him from the European, sort of, courtois, probably? That's my question mark. I think the question mark with this team is the goalkeeper and the centre-back position. Look, to be fair, you know my type of goalkeepers. I like a strong six-foot-three goalkeeper. Sturdy, strong, reliable. Doesn't laugh. Doesn't sort of mess around. No, seriously. Honestly. Literally, he's like a monster. Just imposing. So, I have my issues with Pickford. However, what I would say is, I've watched him now in the last three tournaments. I'm struggling to find where he's let England down in six, seven years. And I can't, honestly, I'd be critical if I thought I could. He has absolutely been so consistent and reliable. That's why I, to be fair, don't name him. Because I think, he actually, to be fair, has stepped up. Was it the French goal? Could he have saved this? There's always a goal, isn't there? But I think, just generally, I think he's stepped up for England and delivered. I think he's consistent. This idea that Ramsdale and Polk would come and take him all, forget that. I know Polk's out injured for a bit, but that's gone now. That question of Ramsdale's gonna come up and do this and Dean Henderson, he's gonna try, no, no, forget it. He's number one. I think centre-back's the one position where you still look and you think, ooh, if Stones wasn't fit, Harry Maguire's, you know, confidence-wise, you know, is he playing enough football? Then you go, who would play alongside him, really? I've never, I mean, Gareth tried the five at the back with, let's say, Kyle Walker with Stones and Maguire as a three with Trent then doing that, sort of, out there and coming in like he does from, sort of, right-wing back. And you've, on the left, you've got, Shaw who plays that left-wing back role and then it means you can have the two in midfield because you've got three centre-backs behind and you've got Kyle Walker's pace. So you're losing someone somewhere? No, no, what I'm saying to you is we haven't got that third man in midfield. We were all struggling with it a little bit. You just have Bellingham and Rice because you've got three centre-halves behind them and you've got Trent going in there. Do you know what I mean? So you've almost got that stability. I just wonder whether we haven't got that third midfielder and I do think we need Kyle's pace alongside Stones and Walker. He does play tight anyway now for City and for England. So what about a Rhys James? I like Rhys James a lot but he can't keep fit. He can't keep fit. But if he was fit now, if he stayed fit and he got... I like Rhys James. Rhys James? To me, he's the blend between Kyle Walker and Alexander-Arnold. He's got the delivery and he's got the strength. I think he's the best of the lot if he stayed fit but he can't stay fit. I think, you know, we've been thinking with Rams there and it's not just my Arsenal connection you probably think it is but if he was playing regularly he'd still be pushing for a place as well still for me. I think he would be. I think that everything was happening with Raya. I think that's doing Pickford a disservice for how he's played for England. I do honestly. No, no, no but I'm just talking about being pushed. Oh he would be. He's playing at a bigger club so it's a higher stage if you like, Champions League. What's happened with the Arsenal and the Raya situation it's kind of giving him a get on with it now and Pickford I don't think no one's challenging him. I'd probably go for a Ruben Diaz or Saliba as you said a good one Van Dijk Van Dijk's Holland isn't he? Yeah I think it's the 180 if you were playing against England you'd think OK that's maybe where we can get some joy. I'd say Scotland have done really well haven't they? Yes Steve Clarke He's a great coach Steve Clarke brilliant coach They've got Germany in the opening game and that's a great game for them can Scotland get out of that group? I think when you look at how Scotland started their campaign with the five wins I don't think of course know what Germany are capable of but I think that Scotland can get out of that group Hungry and bad you know I'm sure I saw a bit of hungry but I just feel that Scotland if they can clip back into that mindset what they started they can beat them they can do it I think they can get out of that group The last Euros were poor weren't they? Scotland Yeah They've played they've done well against us I think that's what they need to tap into that because I just feel that they can do something in that group especially the way Germany are playing What's happening with Ireland Roy with the Irish team just generally? I think the real problem is lack of players How do you go from Ronnie Whelan John Aldridge Paul McGrath Steve Staunton playing for Championship with his top four teams all these players yourself Dennis Irwin go on forever Ray Houghton That's the same with Scotland How do you go on from this great batch of players that play for the top clubs in the country not just like the Premier League clubs top clubs and Scotland with Dalgleish or Souness and that era of players Hansen all those players that were unbelievable they weren't just in the Premier League they were the best in the Premier League What's happened to Scotland to Ireland what's happened to these countries has the Premier League destroyed them or have they destroyed themselves They've destroyed it no but it's been sad it's been sad that there's not enough players now at Man United there's always an Irish connection Arsenal and Irish Liverpool obviously had great connections and there's nobody Cravin there's always one or two obviously in the background Cravin obviously the goalkeeper is there just not enough Irish players playing week in week out in the Premier League so when you turn up and lads stop from the Championship then you're playing a big international match and these lads are playing week in week out in the Championship then it's very very difficult again go back to my time we always had really good players and we had our struggles even with all the players you've just mentioned we had Duff and Keane and so on but it was always a battle Ireland we actually don't qualify that many tournaments it's difficult even with the players you've mentioned sometimes you need a bit of luck you need the one hope Ireland over the next you can't just pin it on one player obviously the kid Ferguson at Brighton you know he's got to stay fit play well and even then it's unfair then to put all the pressure on him to say listen you've got to try and get us off the line in international matches because it is hard it's hard to win international football we just spoke about the players earlier but England look at the English players the options you look at where Ireland players are England were going that way about probably 10 years ago 12 years ago where there was a dearth of talent playing at the top clubs in the Premier League where City weren't having any players in there and Chelsea only one or two all of a sudden it's changed the English academy system has changed the players that are coming through have changed touch on Wales because they could qualify and go into Group D with Netherlands Holland Austria and France do we think we've seen the best of Wales in terms of players coming to the end Bale Ramsey it goes to show we talk about coaching all day long and we look at Wales results since Bale started playing and Bale before and after the last 10, 15 years getting Wales out of trouble goals his assists obviously Ramsey he had obviously some decent players around that but they've come out of the pack now and all of a sudden whatever you're coaching you miss your top players and Bale was that so he's a big huge loss to him a couple of community questions which player are you most gutted at missing out on the Euros obviously a selection there of Isaac Ferguson Haaland Erdegaard Haaland and Erdegaard calibre of those players Ferguson you think about Norway though in the past they were always in tournaments had loads of players in the Premier League they've now probably got the best player in the Premier League in Haaland probably and Erdegaard is in the top sort of five or six when he's on song so it just feels strange being up there doesn't it favourite German city Berlin I've never been Baden-Baden get the circus back in town my family had a great time in Baden-Baden they go back every year I'm going Munich I like Munich I've never been to Berlin I've never been to Berlin I've been to Berlin it's got a big rave scene and it's a nice and cool vibe I'm saying Dusseldorf we've still got the group chat how much stays in that group chat Berlin's got a vibe really cool vibe I think people are going to really enjoy it I can't wait to go I love Berlin we'll have I'm going to go with Bambaston that's the great 88 you have to do something else then everyone would say that Gaza Scotland celebration dentistry that's a tough one for me I always thought I was going to make that score every time I see 1996 it makes me want to ******* cry you love a sad story yeah but God rest him right to death when you get that news I just love being around Gaza and that that Gaza goal yeah Roy Irish moment maybe there's a couple of big Irish moments yeah that was huge for the country huge lift for Ireland that time honestly the buzz everyone needed a lift Jack and the players at the time obviously I didn't get involved until after that but 88 17 brilliant such a lift to the country that was when the team were doing well huge final question who's the winner of the tournament remember this comes back to heart you can't change you know France you know I'm gonna say England because we've been so close this is probably the real last go Belgium no chance Mr. Board I wanna say England I swear I hope honestly I feel that somehow that getting over the line I just What don't know what the difference is this time could it be Bellingham maybe in that sense the form is in now I just feel that France Then somehow they know how their game management the big moments. I just feel like you're just not gonna be you say Saliba sub Yeah, I mean He's a freak I know that Kyle he is does well against him So, you know, the thing is with him back as well You know that the second goal he scored the volley one in a World Cup final right for him to the way Execute that it was like, you know something it's unbelievable because I'm I swear to God I'm doing everything to get that books and get it on time We've tired haven't way if you think about in that euros finally tight. We just fell off a little bit Yeah, we just fall off a little bit. Look at it Yeah, he did. Are you saying England's gonna win it off France? I'm gonna go to England England. I'm gonna go France I'm gonna go England Here we go. This is a big moment. I'll go France And if Gareth doesn't I think we all condemn We all think England have got a good we all think England about a great chance But we also think also think England had a great six years, but is this Gareth Southgate's last tournament irrespective of what happens? Because I think I think some of the criticism Gareth gets just from sort of you know You know people I speak so I think it's so over-the-top and I actually not not argue for me He's got this reputation of being sort of really negative and but when you actually look at the stats how many goals England score You know Bellingham the players that we've got I think it's a little bit harsh But I do think if we don't go really close as in If we got to a final and we were unlucky or we got a bad refereeing decision in the semi-final And everyone felt it was unjust people would say well, okay I think if if we don't win it and people think he hasn't made the right substitution at the right time or pick the right Team I think people will say this team is good enough to win a tournament So we need a manager who can take us and he's not that I just think the swell of opinion will be really against them Which I don't think is exactly right, but I think it will be just quickly go the France game obviously the penalty miss We would we were dealing with France. Oh, yeah Yeah, if I'm England now with Bellingham in the form is we know Harry Kane's going to score his goals You know you go up against that France again. You said that France will be wary of us It depends on the who won that kit with France wanted It's just I'm just saying what you have to take you have to take something from the fact that they are the fake They're probably gonna be the favorites, but we were there you saw that stuff their players are all playing for big clubs I want that won't worry to French. Well, you say they're not gonna be afraid. They're not gonna be afraid of us Yeah, of course, but I'm not thinking I'm afraid of them Of course, they will but the fact is you gotta go in there knowing that you know, I mean, we've given them a bloody That's a potential semi-final That's a potential semi-final we can all look forward to we'll all be there in a minute and we'll look forward to it That's if they get out of the group Really well done Well, we're six months away from all being in Germany But that was an exciting introduction to what could happen in next year's Euros brought to you by EA Sports FC on PlayStation 5