SAMI MOKBEL: Gareth Southgate has nothing to fear from the Euro 2024 draw
When Gareth Southgate takes his seat in Hamburg’s iconic Elbphilharmonie concert hall on Saturday night, he’ll perch comfortably in the knowledge that England are the team everyone wants to avoid.
Group of Death? Who cares. Banana skin? So what? Home nations clash? No problem. Bring. It. On.
Because this is England’s time, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
As ever at these formal soirees, Southgate will be in esteemed company.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, widely recognised as one European football’s most innovative and forward thinking minds, will be nearby.
If he scans the auditorium more intently, Southgate may catch glimpse of France manager Didier Deschamps, a winner and runner-up in his previous two World Cups. He may see Roberto Martinez. Or Ronald Koeman.
Southgate won’t be suffering from an inferiority complex, though. Nor should he be.
Because, as far-fetched as it sounds, Euro 2024 is England’s tournament to lose; Southgate will rub shoulders with his peers at today’s draw knowing it is his team the rest of Europe would rather dodge.
That isn’t wishful thinking or a warped nationalistic opinion borne out of our exposure to the Premier League - but simply because it’s the truth.
Ask England’s rivals about Harry Kane; the captain who has become the goalscoring toast of Bayern Munich.
Ask them about Jude Bellingham, the Stourbridge-born kid already at Galactico status with Real Madrid.
Ask them about Bukayo Saka; the Champions League’s leading goal contributor this season (three goals, four assists).
That’s before we’ve even mentioned Declan Rice, John Stones or Kyle Walker.
And, of course, there’s Southgate himself - the man ultimately responsible for finally providing the country with national team worthy of
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