SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
GARETH’S ARMY GET READY TO FACE THE TARTAN ARMY
ENGLAND will end their agony and win a major tournament, according to former Denmark and Arsenal star John Jensen.
Jensen was part of football’s biggest fairytale 25 years ago when supposed no-hopers Denmark gatecrashed Euro 1992 and lifted the trophy.
Fellow football minnows Greece were Euro 2004 champions, while underachievers England have come up short since the 1966 World Cup win.
But despite half a century of dashed Three Lions hopes, Jensen insists all of football expects Gareth Southgate’s men to come good – perhaps even in Russia next summer. However he did spell out the conditions that must be met for England, who face Scotland in a Group F World Cup qualifier on Saturday, to finally start punching their weight.
Jensen, a guest at the 25th anniversary celebrations in Copenhagen when Denmark take on Germany again tonight, said: “It isn’t wrong for England to have those high expectations.
“If you look at the players they have, playing in the best league in the world in my view, it is reasonable for fans to think they can lift a major trophy.
“Of course every one that goes by without winning it, now the expectation will be less and less. Maybe one day the expectations will be really low, and that’s when they will win it. “Of course it would be less of a surprise if England do it than when we won the Euros. “Everyone in football knows that one day England are going to win a big tournament. That might even come in Russia at the World Cup “But it’s going to happen one day, we all believe they will win a World Cup or a European Championship. That is different to us,
where no one – probably including us – expects ever to win a title again.”
Denmark initially failed to qualify for the 1992 tournament, but stepped in on a week’s notice when civil war led to group winners Yugoslavia being excluded, and went on to beat Germany 2-0 in the final.
“There are things you need to do it, so many things,” added Jensen (left). “England have to have their best players available and selected, with no injuries.
“That’s important, as well as the right manager. That might be Gareth Southgate, you don’t know yet but give him a chance.
“And you need to be playing at a very high intensity. That can be harder after 50 tough matches in a season in England. Playing in a World Cup or a Euros after that, it’s maybe harder to arrive at 100 per cent. They say they’re fresh enough, but I’m not sure they are.
“I think the Premier League season is the hardest because more games are competitive.”
Jensen dismissed claims England’s hugely-wealthy players do not care enough about the national team. He added: “My experience is that English players are every bit as proud of being English and playing for their country. There’s an amazing spirit for their country, similar to that in Denmark, but with more players to pick from.”