Is English football in its most promising era since 1966?

Since the famous 1966 World Cup winning team. There have been a few potential “golden era” squad’s that have promised much, but failed to deliver. With England stuck on one major honour. English fans, many who were not alive to witness England’s win in 1966, are desperate to celebrate a major honour in their generation.

With England unexpectedly making it to the nation’s finals this summer. The promise is there, with an opportunity for England to pick up a trophy. But with the players that’s established and players that are emerging in the English squad over the past 18 months and potentially the next 18 months. Could this finally be the era that will end the hurt and wait for another World Cup or Euro Championships win? 

Gone are the days of the Brooking, Keegan, Hoddle, Francis, Shilton and Wilkins era’s of the early 80’s. The Robson, Butcher, Gascoigne, Barnes, Waddle, Platt, Beardsley and Lineker era of early 90’s. The Neville, Adams, Ince, Southgate, Gascoigne, McManaman, Sheringham and Shearer era’s of the mid 90’s. And the The Ferdinand, Cole, Terry, Beckham, Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen and Rooney era’s of the 2000’s. 

With Southgate at the helm. England have a new, vibrant, promising and exciting present and future. Where it feels very different to such golden generations of the past. England do not have one or two, seemingly world-class players in their prime’s and hope the squad can make up the numbers.

They generally have several genuine world-class players, who may have not even reached their prime as yet. They now also have an abundance of young, up and coming talent. Who are already making their mark in world football. 

Some young players who are regular starters for their respective clubs in the Premier League and abroad in leagues around Europe. Both situations that has rarely been seen by young English players as frequently as now.

With the influx of foreign players over the years in the Premier League, young English players had struggled. But it seems this has caused English players to elevate their games, thus benefiting the national team at all levels. 

Getting to the semi finals’s of Word Cup 2018. Also, now the finals of the new UEFA Nations league this summer, with a legitimate chance of winning it, is testament to their recent progress for this relatively new squad.

In addition to this, the younger teams have done exceptionally well by picking up two major trophies. The the under 20’s team won the World Cup in Korea2017. Then the under 17’s team won the World Cup in India2017. Proving English football is on the rise. 

The current national squad have the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier who are all performing regularly at a high level at home and abroad in European competitions. That’s nine very decent players.

In addition, there is currently injured Oxlade-Chamberlain. Jesse Lingard. James Maddison. John Stones. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw and who all will no doubt have many more caps for England and could make telling contributions in the near future. 

Also, the likes of Michael Keane. Ben Chilwell. Ruben Loftus-Cheek. James Tarkowski. Ross Barkley. James Ward-Prowse. Adam Lallana. Danny Rose. Harry Winks. Fabian Delph and Damarai Gray, will be fighting for places in the team in the next 12 months. 

Goalkeepers such as Jordan Pickford. Jack Butland and Nick Pope are all young enough to be playing for at least another 10 years, and will all be pushing each other for a starting place in the England team for years to come. Alongside the likes of Tom Heaton. 

Presantly, I can count ten players 21 or under, who I feel are destined for long England careers. I have already mentioned Rashford and Alexander-Arnold. In addition, I would also say Joe Gomez. Jordan Sancho. Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi have bright futures.

To add to that. Players who I feel, it won’t be long until they receive their first full England cap are Phil Foden and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and possibly two who could get a full England cap within the next 12 months are Reiss Nelson and Ryan Sessegnon. 

Those ten players seem to be to performing at a very decent level for their clubs and have a genuine chance at becoming regular England internationals in the coming years. It’s a rich pool of talent I don’t think England has had (quality and experience wise) in a very long time, or even ever. That’s 30 players mentioned above already. 

To make it even better. Aside from the ten young players mentioned. There are also players such as Ade Lookman. Sean Longstaff. Mason Mount. Tammy Abraham. Morgan Gibbs-White and Dwight McNeil, who are English players 21 and under, with potential, who are applying their trade in the Premier League and catching the eye. 

As always. Only time will tell if this could really be the era/generation that delivers for England and ends the now, 53 years of hurt. It will start with what happens in the Nations League finals this summer.

But even if England don’t succeed this summer in the Nations League finals. It seems England, under Southgate, seem to be moving in the right direction, with a lot more emphasis placed on youth, or maybe is it just these days, there are a lot more quality young English footballers, than there have ever been? 

If you combine them with the quality that’s already in the English squad, then Southgate has some real promise for the immediate present and the coming future, which certainly look very bright for the English national team and of course the adoring, starving fans.