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After making his international debut four months after the Euro 2024 final, Morgan Rogers will be hoping to be a key part of England’s World Cup charge this summer.
The Aston Villa forward is part of a talented new generation of attacking English stars, but while the likes of his former Manchester City team-mate Cole Palmer have already sampled action on the biggest stage, Rogers’ rise has been more workmanlike.
Rogers on watching Cole Palmer score in the England final
“That was a nice feeling,” Rogers admits to FourFourTwo when asked what it was like to see his former Man City and England youth level team-mate net against Spain in the Euro 2024 decider.
“I don’t think I’ve ever shouted that much for a goal in my life!”
Palmer’s goal came three minutes after his introduction from the bench in Berlin and cancelled out Nico Williams’ opener, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to net a late winner, as England fell to a second consecutive European Championship final defeat.
“I wish it turned out to be in better circumstances, but it was a great moment,” Rogers adds.
That tournament came six months after Rogers had made the move to Aston Villa, where he had already begun to make an impact, netting three times in 16 appearances. While that did not quite earn him a place in the England squad that summer, he looks set to travel to North America this summer.
“I was just at home watching the Euros with friends, family, getting people round, everyone watching it together.
“To come so close to winning was upsetting and disappointing, but we’ve got to go one better this time.”
And as Rogers prepares for this summer’s tournament, he is using Cole’s strike against Spain as inspiration.
“Of course,” he admits. “That moment was 100 per cent motivation for me. You’re proud and happy for them, but then you want to do it as well, and there’s no reason why I can’t do the same.
“It spurs you on, the friendly competition, trying to replicate it and do better. It’s good when you’ve got friends doing well.”
*Rogers was speaking during a visit to Puma’s first European flagship store, on Oxford Street in London.*
