‘This group haven’t had the Golden Generation’s club success, but they’re putting everything together better’ Owen Hargreaves on his Thomas Tuchel’s side can eclipse his team’s efforts

Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was part of one of the most talented squads England have ever put together.

But while Hargreaves’ Golden Generation were unable to gel and hit a quarter-final ceiling in major international tournaments, he believes that England’s current crop may well end up succeeding where his side failed, despite a lack of star names.

Instead, Hargreaves sees a more cohesive unit that could finally end England’s wait for a major title this summer.

Hargreaves on balance over big names

Hargreaves was a European champion with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and battled for an England place against Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes during that era.

“If you think back to our group, they all achieved enormous success at their clubs, like the Champions League,” he tells FourFourTwo. “Not many of this group have had that success yet, but they’re super talented, and what they have done a better job at during this era is to put everything together better.

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“We had so many world-class players that we almost had the names select themselves, and we didn’t really get the balance right, because we tried to pick everyone. I think Thomas Tuchel knows that.

“Scholesy and Stevie G were both generational talents, but I love Declan Rice, he just gets better every time you watch him, and Morgan Rogers is so underrated – he’s got room to grow.

“Cole Palmer has got genius inside him sometimes, too, and I know Jude Bellingham gets a lot of criticism, but he’s a big game player.

“He’s shown that, and it’s what you need in a tournament – people who have the courage to step up in those massive moments and go, ‘Right, give me the ball.’

And while Hargreaves believes other squads may have more talent, England could triumph if they remain pragmatic under Tuchel.

“I don’t think we’re going to win the tournament by being the best team, because there’ll be better footballing teams there.

“If we’re going to win, we’re probably going to do it on the counter. There’s no shame doing that. You need to play to your strengths. France have been the masters of it, and so have Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“With the players we have in transition, I think we could destroy people.”