Brighton players hopeful of Euro 2020 participation
Can you feel it? The 2020-21 Premier League season is heading down the final stretch, which is that squeaky bum time of year when tensions couldn’t be any higher.
For teams jostling for position at the wrong end of the table, there are inevitably fans who are twitching nervously, for whom the fear of relegation is just too much to take.
However, as we reach the conclusion of another hugely difficult campaign, Brighton fans can be forgiven for beginning to relax a little. Safety is not quite mathematically secured, yet the team is doing just enough to keep afloat, maintaining a comfortable enough points cushion to stay above the bottom three.
When all the angst is over and, hopefully, Brighton have secured their Premier League status once again, we can turn our attention to more agony as England attempt to win UEFA Euro 2020, aiming to reach a final that will be hosted on home turf at Wembley. The latest Euro 2020 odds value England as the joint favourites, currently tipped at 5/1 along with France.
Following @UEFA's latest update on #EURO2020, the England Supporters Travel Club have published information on what it means for #ThreeLions fans with tickets for this summer's tournament:
— England (@England) April 12, 2021
That said, being tagged as the favourites is nothing new for England, with our national team always failing to live up to tournament expectations.
Football has evolved so much since that iconic 1966 World Cup triumph; it almost seems like a prehistoric achievement these days. Still, fans continue to believe the Three Lions can end so many years of waiting.
Of course, none of the current Brighton squad will be pulling on the England shirt at Euro 2020, unless Gareth Southgate has a moment of madness beforehand, with shock recalls for previous regulars like Adam Lallana or Danny Welbeck. In fact, just three members of the 2020-21 Brighton squad have any realistic chance of participating at Euro 2020.
The most likely candidate is 26-year-old winger Leandro Trossard, who has earned six caps for Belgium since last year. After scoring twice and putting in a great performance, as Belgium crushed Belarus 8-0 in March, the Brighton player will be firmly in the mind of national team boss Roberto Martinez, ahead of naming his Euro 2020 squad.
“That was a big experience. It’s a special goal for me at Wembley."
Brighton's Jakub Moder talks to @restyrestall about scoring against England and changing positions to help his new club stay up #BHAFC https://t.co/lrZSXYcNBD
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) April 12, 2021
Having frequently featured in Poland squads over the last two years, midfielder Jakub Moder scored in their 2-1 defeat against England in March, so he should be part of the Polish squad for Euro 2020.
Despite the lack of regular appearances for Brighton this season, the 22-year-old is considered an increasingly important player for his national team.
There’s also a slim chance he could be joined by Michał Karbownik, if the 20-year-old left back can debut in the Premier League with Brighton before the season ends.
Having only made one senior appearance in the FA Cup, being chosen by Poland boss Paulo Sousa for Euro 2020 might seem unlikely, although he does already have three international caps.
Aside from the national phenomenon of believing England will actually win a major tournament, at least Brighton fans will have a vested interest in following Euro 2020 carefully, beyond the habitual hopes for our own national team.
Maybe one or two Seagulls will be flying high at the tournament, which makes it all the more worthwhile tuning in for games.
