Euro 2024: England’s squad is better ‘educated tactically’ than Golden Generation of 2004 – Joe Cole

Joe Cole says England’s current squad is better “educated” than the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of 20 years ago.

At Euro 2004, hopes were high of Sven Goran Eriksson’s talent-stacked side being triumphant in Portugal, only for them to crash out against the host nation in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out.

Captained by David Beckham, England boasted a defence featuring John Terry and Ashley Cole, a midfield duo of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and a fledgling striker in Wayne Rooney, who put fear into every defender he faced - until a fractured metatarsal ended his quarter-final early.

And yet, success still evaded them.

It has ever since, too, despite Gareth Southgate leading the country closer than ever to a first major men’s trophy since 1966.

England will go to Germany this summer as some people's favourites to triumph and go a step further than last time, when they lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on penalties at Wembley.

Joe Cole was a member of Eriksson’s squad in the 2004 tournament but did not play.

When comparing that group to Southgate's current crop, he told TNT Sports: “I think what sets these boys out is that tactically they’re better than we were because they’ve been educated in a better system, in a better way of playing. I think that’s going to be the difference.

“We were always at a loose end. We would go mad. The amount of times we would go into a game and we’d have [Paul] Scholes, Becks [David Beckham], Stevie [Gerrard] and Frank [Lampard] and I’m like, ‘we’re not having the ball here for parts of the game’.

“We’d only win because someone would do something.”

Rio Ferdinand thinks knowledge of the European game could give England an edge in this summer’s tournament.

“I think there was more depth in our squad. If you went from 1-24 I think over that whole group maybe we’d be better, but they’ve got players who’ve played… Kane and Bellingham playing outside of the country is a big thing, I think. That’s an advantage they would have over us.

“They would know different ways of playing, different leagues, different cultures. I think that goes a long way,” he said.

Speaking with Ferdinand and Cole was former Scotland striker Ally McCoist, who questioned whether the current squad has the freedom to achieve success.

“You’re saying you guys tactically weren’t as briefed as these boys are, so you would just express yourselves and go play. Now that is what the current England support want this England team to do but they feel they might not be allowed to do it,” McCoist said.

“A lot of them feel Gareth will play with two sitters and hold the reins a little bit. They might not be allowed to do what you guys were able to go and do naturally.”

Ferdinand responded: “I think it’s more the personnel with this team. It’s more who he plays, the structure of the team is really good but if you play a Kobbie Mainoo in that sit-in role with Declan Rice with the license to move a little bit, or Bellingham with Rice to move a little bit.

“I don’t remember a really easy game for England because we tactically weren’t that good."

With England’s final squad now confirmed after months of debate, the next conversation will naturally turn to Southgate’s starting line-up when their tournament gets underway against Serbia on June 16.

“I think the one thing we’ve seen, I don’t know if you agree with me, but Gareth has got to find a way to play Phil Foden in a central role”, McCoist said.

Joe Cole: “I’m going to disagree. I want to big the lads up.”

Ally McCoist: “I’m going to agree because I tend to agree with what you [Rio] said and the key word is squad. I’m not sure they’ve got a better team but I think that might have been a bigger and better squad.”

Rio Ferdinand: “I’m going to go with Ally so I agree.”

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