Euro 2020/1 Group D Preview

Day 4 of my Euro 2021/2 previews brings up Group D, in which England are faced with a challenging group including Croatia, the Czech Republic and the Auld Enemy Scotland. 

Prospects: Gareth Southgate’s England side reached the semi-finals of Russia 2018 and have added several exciting youngsters such as Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden since then, making them genuine tournament contenders. As always, it will come down to tournament mentality, including the ability to win tight matches and even penalty shoot-outs in the later stages. Ironically, Croatia were the team that knocked England out in that Russia 2018 semi-final before bowing out to France in the final. Since then, however, time has not been a friend to Zlatko Dalic’s side, who typically starts half a side of players the wrong side of 30, including the team’s lightening rod the Real Madrid playmaker Luca Modric, now 35. The Czech Republic is another side well known to England, as they were England’s main opponents in qualifiers, defeating The Three Lions in Prague and finishing second in the group. The Czechs used to play stylish football, but Jaroslav Šilhavý’s side play a bit like Burnley, relying on long balls launched at Burnley striker Matěj Vydra and set pieces launched at West Ham’s Tomáš Souček for their goal threats. It’s obvious what’s coming from them but a lot more difficult figuring out how to stop it. Finally, Scotland Steve Clarke’s Scotland side qualified via the playoffs defeating Serbia in the Byzantine Nations League process. If the Czechs are old-fashioned, the Scots are prehistoric. The England-Scotland clash at Wembley on Friday, June 18 will revive nostalgia for Home Nations tournaments of the past, but don’t expect a lot more from Scotland than that hootenanny. 

* One to Watch: England’s whiz kid Phil Foden is poised to light up Euro 2020/1 as Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney lit up summer tournaments as teenagers. 

* Most Likely to See Red: Scotland’s Norwich City center back Grant Hanley is an aficionado of the agricultural challenge. 

* Most Likely to Attempt a “Panenka:” Croatia’s Inter Milan striker Ivan Perisic has done it before - he’ll do it again.

* Worst haircut in the group: England’s Jack Grealish is a man of a thousand hairstyles - all of them regrettable. 

* Key Match: England v. Croatia - Sunday, June 13, 9am EST, ESPN

* Blue Devil’s Crystal Ball Says: Come on, England!