Jamie Carragher insists England are now favourites for Euro 2020 and has hailed Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling for their contributions during the Three Lions’ impressive victory over Germany.
On a memorable evening at Wembley on Tuesday, England clinched their first knockout win over Germany since 1966 thanks to second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.
The victory means Gareth Southgate’s side are yet to lose or concede during the tournament and have progressed to the quarter-finals where they will face Ukraine.
With holders Portugal and World Cup champions France already out of the Euros, Carragher views England as the ‘favourites’ to win the tournament but insists it will ‘not be easy’, despite the favourable route to the final.
The former Liverpool and England defender told Sky Sports: ‘It does look doable. I actually felt before the tournament that there was a great chance for this team to reach the semi-final because of the way the draw was set up.
‘We knew they had to beat a Germany, Portugal or France and we knew that would be difficult because England historically, going back since 1966, had never beaten a top team in 90 minutes in a knockout stage. This was the first time.
‘The fact that we have done it, the belief from that, playing at Wembley in a semi-final and final, it is a great chance, obviously.
‘They could not have picked anyone better than Ukraine next. I think even of the two teams they would have preferred Ukraine to Sweden. It almost feels like it has fallen in their lap.
‘It still won’t be easy. Going to Rome, just that uprooting, you are not in your familiar surroundings, that could have a bearing on the game. But there was no way they could have picked anyone better.
‘If the semi-final is against the Danes, that will be a tough game. I have been impressed with them in this tournament for obvious reasons. If you get to the final, it will be one of the big hitters on that side, Belgium, Italy or Spain.
‘But with the confidence that England will have, they are favourites now and I don’t see that changing.’
England produced a superb display to down rivals Germany in the last 16 and move one step closer to European Championship glory.
Carragher was particularly impressed by Everton goalkeeper Pickford – who made two big saves – Manchester United defender Maguire – who bossed the defence – and Manchester City forward Sterling – who opened the scoring with his third goal of the competition.
He said: ‘I think you could argue that Jordan Pickford has been the best goalkeeper in the tournament or certainly close to it. He has not conceded a goal and he has made vital saves when called upon.
‘I think a lot of people were worried about him because when you watch him in the Premier League at times you think that he is maybe going to take his form to England.
‘But when you think about Jordan Pickford in an England shirt, he has never let England down. He has done more than not let them, he has been outstanding.
‘You think of his role in penalty shoot-outs going back to the last World Cup, his distribution from the back as well, that is always the reason why he plays ahead of other goalkeepers who people deem to be better in terms of shot-stopping.
‘But if you judge him in an England shirt, he has been outstanding. He has delivered in real pressure moments.’
Carragher, who made 38 appearances for the Three Lions, added: ‘Harry Maguire is our best centre-back by a long way. He adds composure and calmness with his defending, also on the ball.
‘It was the right decision for him to come straight in. Tyrone Mings did really well but Maguire brings something nobody else can bring.
‘I am a huge Raheem Sterling fan too and a lot of the talk going into the tournament was that he would not play. But whenever I was picking my England team it was always Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and one other in that front three.
‘There was no way you could go into that first game without the pace and penetration that he offers running in behind, especially if Kane is going to be the centre-forward because he needs that now with the way he is playing.
‘Sterling’s goal record in the last couple of years for Southgate is off the scale so the fact that he was being questioned I could not believe. He is an outstanding player.
‘He has been England’s best player in this tournament by a mile and the way that he is going he will not be far off winning player of the tournament if England keep going to the final and he is getting goals. That is the impact that he has had.’
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