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Duff & Sadlier Think England Could Be In For Tricky Time At Euro 2020

Duff & Sadlier Think England Could Be In For Tricky Time At Euro 2020
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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Euro 2020 is set to get underway next week, and while Ireland will play no part in the tournament, there should be plenty of exciting football to look forward to over the next month.

With fans back in stadiums essentially for the first time in over a year, we can expect to see some cracking atmospheres at the games around the continent.

Considering there is no Irish involvement, the main hobby of many football people in this country for the duration of the tournament will be shouting against England. It is a national pastime at this stage.

Unfortunately, Gareth Southgate seems to have a pretty stellar squad to choose from heading into the Euros. However, we know how that has went for them in the past.

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Speaking at RTÉ Sport's 'Create the Future' launch, both Richie Sadlier and Damien Duff said that England could go far in the tournament, although they will face some very tricky obstacles if they are to do so.

If England top their group (something that is expected), they are set to face one of France, Portugal, or Germany in the last-16, a tie Sadlier believes would be a very tricky prospect for them.

If they win their group, which is achievable, and is within their expectations, they will face the runner-up of Group F.

Which in my view, is probably going to be either France or Portugal. It could be Germany but it's probably France or Portugal - both teams who are going to the tournament with expectations of winning it.

So, we're going to get a massive team falling out in the last-16 round.

The youth and talent that England have, players, so many of whom finished the season playing in European finals. They have Wembley Stadium to play a lot of their games in.

So, it's a massive opportunity for England to go really, really big in the competition and do really well - if they navigate the last-16 game.

Any of those three teams would certainly provide a stern test, with the English's record against the larger nations in major tournaments absolutely abysmal over the last couple of decades.

Damien Duff is backing France to win the tournament, while he is also holding out some faint hope that England could actually falter in a group containing Croatia, Scotland, and the Czech Republic.

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They play Croatia first. Croatia could do them. And Scotland - close to my heart - Scotland could put England out in the second game. They've a good solid squad. They've a lot of Celtic players who are really well coached, top players.

"The Scots are not going to go and take the game to teams, they're going to sit back and frustrate. They'll do that with England. Maybe, I'm a dreamer but the second game, England could be out and Scotland could go through.

All jokes aside, the two finalists in the Champions League this year were two English teams. Top young talent, the likes of Foden and Mount, so you'd imagine England will go far.

But I don't think I can look beyond the world champions, France.

The last-16 game featuring the winner's from England's group was originally scheduled to take place in Dublin, although it will now take place in Wembley.

SEE ALSO: Richie Sadlier's Withering Assessment Sums Up Ireland's Issues Perfectly

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