Can West London clubs Help England Win Euro 2020?
Chelsea, Brentford, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers are West London’s finest football clubs. Over the last few decades, they’ve all produced some serious talent both on a domestic and an international level. Indeed, go back in time and the great Johnny Haynes of Fulham notched up 56 caps for England. Then, of course, you’ve got Chelsea legends like John Terry and Frank Lampard who served the country so well over the years.
With Euro 2020 looming, thoughts are once again turning to the contribution West London clubs can make. Heading into next summer’s tournament, the Euro 2020 betting experts have England as joint-favourites with France. At 9/2, Gareth Southgate’s men are stronger, at least from the bookmaker’s perspective, than Belgium. Naturally, we know how well Belgium can play in major competitions thanks to the 2018 World Cup. However, as things stand right now, England are looking a better prospect than the Belgians at 5/1.
West London clubs are represented but only just
Unfortunately, West London clubs aren’t as well represented on a national level as they once were. With North London stealing the limelight in recent years (i.e. Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Eric Dier), players from Fulham et al have struggled to get a game. There are, however, some glimmers of light. Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Mason Mount have all featured in the squad recently. Even though they’ve only got a handful of caps combined, they have more than enough to offer in terms of quality and skill.
The standout prospect of the three has to be Mount. At just 21-years-old, Mount has more caps than the other two and a strong set of stats. In 10 senior appearances for England, he’s played 431 minutes and achieved a “passes completed” rate of 89% in 2019-2020. That’s solid at any level, but to do it for England is even more impressive. He’s also got two goals. That may not be enough to set the world alight but for someone that’s more of a playmaker and, importantly, young in the game, it’s a mark of quality.
Cameos could contribute to England’s success
Reece James may not have shown what he’s capable of to the fullest extent but he’s also one to watch. When Euro 2020 rolls around, there’s no reason he couldn’t come on and do a job defensively. From three senior appearances, he’s managed to win 67% of the tackles he’s made. His versatility means that he could also be used in a defensive midfield role as he’s unlikely to claim the right-back role due to the wealth of options. Alongside a more experienced player like Jordan Henderson, he’ll not only grow as a player but create a solid midline for England. Alternatively, if Southgate decides to bring in an attacking midfielder like James Maddison or Jack Grealish, James could hold the line and let those with more flair create the opportunities.
Of all the West London representatives, Tammy Abraham may have the toughest time breaking through. In four senior appearances, he’s played 110 minutes, scored once and has a shot accuracy of 50%. Those aren’t bad stats. However, when you’re competing against Kane and Rashford for a place, you need something earthshattering to make the cut. There’s no doubt Abraham could come on an do a job. At 6ft 3”, he’s a threat in the air. But, unless Kane et al run into issues next summer, he’s unlikely to feature too heavily. The good news, however, is that a West London club is represented at the international level. Even though the aforementioned trio might not win England the Euro 2020 trophy, they can certainly play a part in any success story.
