Top four priorities for England as the attention turns to the 2024 European Championships
- Planet Sport writer
- 12 December 2022
England’s World Cup dreams are over as the men’s team saw their wait for a major trophy extend to at least 58 years.
Gareth Southgate's men headed home from Qatar on Sunday after an agonising 2-1 loss to reigning champions France the previous night, denying them a semi-final clash with Morocco.
It was another case of so close yet so far for England and Planet Sport has looked at what they need to do next as attention turns to the European Championship in 2024.
Persuade Southgate to stay
Parachuted into the hot seat in 2016 following a shambolic Euros and Sam Allardyce's ignominious 67-day reign, few could have foreseen the former England defender overseeing such a change in fortunes.
A remarkable run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals was followed by reaching a first-ever European Championship final, with the team looking more complete than either of those tournaments as they reached the quarter-finals in Qatar.
As exciting as that progress is, Southgate admits he is dealing with conflicting thoughts after an often difficult last 18 months.
The 52-year-old's deal runs until 2024 but he is considering his options - a concern given the scant alternatives and he has proven himself to be a good coach, excellent leader and tremendous ambassador.
There remain questions over his in-game management but the players love him.
Beat a big team in a knockout match
England kick-off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a trip to Naples in 14 weeks' time.
Italy did not feature in Qatar but are sure to provide a tough challenge, just as they did in last summer's Euros final penalty shoot-out defeat and the recent Nations League meetings.
The Azzurri are far from perfect but the four-time world champions have long had a knack of beating the top teams in the biggest matches.England have struggled on that front.
The win against Germany in last year's last-16 clash at Wembley was a huge step forward, but the fact remains that they have never won a knockout match on foreign soil against an elite nation. A remarkable statistic.
Continue playing on the front foot
England went close to ending their wait for a big knockout win abroad against World Cup holders France at Al Bayt Stadium, where Southgate's side impressed on a night when fine margins proved the difference.
It was arguably the national team's most complete display in the former defender's three major tournaments in charge and proved they do not need a five-man backline to compete.
England leant on that system throughout their run to the final four in 2018 and last summer's clashes against Germany and Italy as Southgate tried to best utilise the tools at this disposal.
This time, though, the England staff felt they had the tools to fit their preferred 4-3-3 system, thanks to the evolution and development of key figures in that role. There remains tweaks to make but it is a positive development.
Continue promoting youth
Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, still only 21, grabbed the headlines with their performance in England's group opener against Iran and beyond.
The pair have made physical and technical advancements since last summer's Euros, while clearly benefitting from experiences over the past 18 months.
Bellingham is surely in the running for young player of the tournament given the 19-year-old's eye-catching displays in Qatar, where Phil Foden, 22, has impressed on the world stage alongside the likes of Declan Rice, 23, and Marcus Rashford, 25.
Southgate has always selected youthful squads and, whether he stays in charge or not, England need to keep leaning on their vastly-improved pool of talent to keep pushing the current crop and hone the potential of others.
Much of this squad will be ready to go again in 2024. Jordan Henderson, Callum Wilson, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were the only outfield players in Qatar in their thirties.
Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold are incredible challengers to the latter pair at right-back, while Henderson is performing better than ever for England and striker Wilson was always likely a short-term Plan B as Harry Kane's back-up.
