With the memory still fresh of the missed opportunity in 2021, when they fell in a penalty shootout against Italy, England has taken several strides over these three years to the point of being considered favorites in the tournament being held this summer in Germany.

The main change from the team that was a shootout away from becoming champions is the increased importance of Jude Bellingham. Three years ago, he was barely a teenager with one season in the elite at Borussia Dortmund, and now he comes into the squad as a European champion with Real Madrid, after a season in which he has generated more than thirty goals for the 'Blancos.'

Gareth Southgate faces the dilemma of where to place him on the field. Following the example of Carlo Ancelotti, positioning him as a '10', where he has excelled this year, or following his instincts and deploying him as a central midfielder, requiring him to fulfill both offensive and defensive duties.

If Southgate opts to pair him with Declan Rice and Conor Gallagher, Bellingham will have more freedom and can play a role similar to the one he already holds at Real Madrid. This setup was evident, for instance, in the friendly match England played against Scotland, arguably his best performance with the 'Three Lions' to date.