CHRIS SUTTON: Gareth Southgate’s kids will be hitting their prime for the delayed Euros

CHRIS SUTTON: Gareth Southgate’s kids will be hitting their prime… pushing Euro 2020 back may benefit England youngsters more than most

  • England’s young core of players will have another year of experience to lean on
  • Portugal, Spain and France are all at a disadvantage due to their older players
  • Postponing to 2021 is unfortunate but it may boost England’s chance of success 

Will the European Championship being put back by a year benefit England? 

Harry Kane, you expect, will be fitter than he would have been this summer. Young talents such as Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and even Marcus Rashford who is still only 22, will have gained another year of experience. 

But I prefer to look at which countries might consider this delay harmful to their chances of winning that competition, and November’s Euro 2020 qualifiers tell a story.

Switching the European Championships to 2021 may benefit England’s young set of players

Gareth Southgate may benefit with his young players gathering another year of experience

Gareth Southgate may benefit with his young players gathering another year of experience

Here is how Chris Sutton wants England to start the European Championships in 2021

Here is how Chris Sutton wants England to start the European Championships in 2021

The average age of Portugal’s XI was 28 years and 58 days. That included a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 36 by the time summer 2021 rolls round, so this will surely leave them at a disadvantage. 

Spain’s average was 28 years and 39 days, France’s 27 years and 331 days, with Olivier Giroud approaching 35 next summer.

Belgium’s XI was 27 years and 21 days, and Germany, Holland and Italy’s were all in the 26-year bracket. But then, some way off, we have England — 24 years and 71 days. That was the average age of the side who beat Kosovo 4-0.

So maybe Gareth Southgate’s band of kids will be hitting their prime by the summer of 2021. 

This is all hypothetical, of course. Who knows what players will break on to the scene by then? 

This time last year, not too many of you may have known about Erling Braut Haaland. But now the 19-year-old Norwegian is possibly the hottest young property in football. 

But certainly, as things stand, England can look at the silver lining from this unfortunate situation we all find ourselves in.  

Portugal have been hindered by the postponement as Cristiano Ronaldo will be 36 next year

Portugal have been hindered by the postponement as Cristiano Ronaldo will be 36 next year

Source link