England can win the European Championship thanks to the world’s ‘best bunch of youngsters’, says Hurst
SIR GEOFF HURST is backing Gareth Southgate to lead England to Euro 2024 glory – thanks to Jude Bellingham and his fellow boys.
The 1966 World Cup hat-trick legend believes there is a “good chance” Three Lions boss Southgate will end 58 years of pain this summer.
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And he tips Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham for inspiring England to success.
The Euro 2020 final was the closest England have come to winning a major tournament since Hurst’s exploits.
Southgate also guided England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018.
Hurst, 82, said: “Our chances of winning the European Championship this summer are very good.
“The leadership under Gareth has been really great and it is good to have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and the final of the European Championship.
“There was a period a few years ago when players thought it was more important to play European football for a club than to represent their country. That has all changed now under Southgate, although I recognize that there is still a section of people who will moan about the way he is getting England to play.
“But you look at what he’s done and how he works. A giant step forward has been taken, so we have a great opportunity.”
The former England and West Ham forward sang Southgate’s praises at Bristol’s Redgrave Theater during An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst: The Farewell Tour, but he was less complimentary about some of England’s previous efforts on the biggest stages.
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Hurst explained: “Some past performances have been very poor, especially at the World Cup in Brazil (2014). We had three qualifying matches and before we knew it we were off and back home.
“Some foreign managers have not done so well and some of our performances in tournaments have been shocking. But it won’t be a shock to me if we win this summer.
“I say that because I think we have THE best group of young players, even though it will be difficult.”
With Bellingham going from strength to strength in Spain, Hurst is optimistic that England fans can finally celebrate as he continued: “Jude Bellingham is an incredible talent – what he has done with his career so far is incredible.
“He went to Real Madrid and it seems he can’t stop scoring, which shows what a fantastic player he is.
“But Jude is also part of a great group of young players, which is great. He’s only 20, which is amazing and he’s brilliant.
‘Plus, he seems like a nice guy and doesn’t seem to get carried away with anything.
“I can’t speak enough about him. But he is just one of many young English players who will only get better, so we have a very good chance.”
Hurst scored one of the sport’s most controversial goals in the 1966 final. But while he agrees VAR would have shown his shot was a yard over the line at Wembley, he is far from impressed of the new system.
He said: “Decisions must be made quickly. It’s c**p. Fans can’t celebrate properly, players can’t celebrate and the referee leaves the field to watch the screen for ten minutes.
“And somehow they’re still making just as many bad decisions, which is amazing. It’s just terrible.”
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