The Three Lions fail to roar against the Serbians

Back on the stage where Gareth Southgate almost led England to their first international trophy since 1966, the Euro 2024 brings fresh hopes and old wounds. Two years ago, a conservative strategy and final-match nerves handed the Italians a chance to pull off the ultimate Italian Job. Now, with a squad boasting some of the best players in England and Spain, the world braced for a display of English firepower. But as fate would have it, the Lions roared more in theory than in practice. The burning question remains: Is Southgate the right man to steer this ship through the next cycle?

England's group stage lineup—Slovenia, Denmark, and Serbia—looked like a proving ground for their trophy ambitions. Their opener against Serbia was billed as a statement game, a chance to demonstrate their intent. But the Serbs had other plans, thwarting England's efforts and leaving fans with a glimmer of hope from a promising first half. The real test is yet to come, with Denmark's dark horse potential and Slovenia's unpredictability on the horizon. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride to see if the Three Lions can hit their stride in time.

The much-hyped "Trent in midfield" experiment fell flat. Trent Alexander-Arnold, accustomed to spraying long passes at Anfield, found few opportunities to showcase his range against Serbia. With just four long passes attempted, it was clear the setup didn’t click. Perhaps a reshuffle for the next game against Denmark will bring a more fitting partner for Declan Rice. Until then, Southgate has some tactical tinkering to do.

Despite the mixed team performance, Jude Bellingham stole the spotlight, becoming the youngest player to appear in two European Championships at 20 years and 353 days old. His dynamic presence on the field was a bright spot in an otherwise lukewarm debut match. If England is to advance and challenge the continent's elite, they'll need more of Bellingham's brilliance and less of their current inconsistency.

So, should we keep singing "It's Coming Home"? Maybe, dial it down a notch. This young English squad has potential, but they need to step up and shake the continental status quo if they want to make history. The journey is just beginning, and the next two group games will be crucial in determining their fate in Germany.