England At UEFA Euro 2024: Joe Cole Believes 바카라�The Time Is Now바카라�

Gareth Southgate is preparing to take charge of his fourth and potentially last major tournament, having reached the World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals as well as a continental final.

England바카라�s agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 showpiece remains raw but has only increased the squad바카라�s desire to go one better in Germany.

Cole believes those shared experiences are indicating this can be 바카라�a real positive summer바카라�, with the former international excited by what Southgate바카라�s side can achieve.

바카라�Listen, they were penalty kicks away from winning a tournament,바카라� the former England international told the PA news agency. 바카라�There바카라�s been semi-finals, quarter-finals 바카라� the experience is there now.

바카라�They have got young players in the squad, but they바카라�re so experienced and so knowledgeable, as a team and as a group. You know, I think the time is now.

바카라�The only difference going into this tournament is there바카라�s a little bit more expectation on them and it바카라�s how do they cope with that, but I think they바카라�ve got the right manager for that.

바카라�I think Gareth will manage the anxieties of the squad 바카라� of the team 바카라� and just keep them focused on the task in hand.

바카라�I think Gareth is in the right place. Very, very good character in that situation. I think it actually sort of would benefit to have someone of his character there.바카라�

Cole is well placed to analyse England바카라�s chances having represented his country 56 times and worked as a pundit throughout the build-up to Euro 2024.

The retired creative midfielder is also a former international team-mate of Southgate, who he believes deserves more appreciation for the job he has done in charge of the men바카라�s team.

바카라�Factually, Gareth Southgate is the most successful England manager since Alf Ramsey,바카라� Cole said.

바카라�If you바카라�re going to have a discussion with someone and anyone바카라�s picking holes out of it, that is the facts.

바카라�He바카라�s taken the team deeper in tournaments than anyone and he바카라�s just underappreciated. Underappreciated the job he바카라�s done.바카라�

Cole 바카라� who has signed up to play in Soccer Aid for UNICEF on June 9 바카라� was in the same 2002 World Cup squad as Southgate and part of the last England side to play in a major tournament in Germany.

Sven-Goran Eriksson바카라�s much-hyped 바카라�Golden Generation바카라� bowed out in the quarter-final stage of the 2006 World Cup and Cole believes things are better for the national team this time around.

바카라�It바카라�s a different landscape,바카라� Cole said. 바카라�We had different problems to deal with than this group of players.

바카라�When you go into a tournament, you need moments to happen for you. Every tournament we played in, it was either a penalty shoot-out or it was a sending off or an injury.

바카라�These big moments went against us, but ultimately I feel this group are better educated from a footballing perspective.

바카라�I feel where we are in England 바카라� in terms of how we play football 바카라� is the right way now.

바카라�I feel for many, many years, we weren바카라�t playing in the right way tactically, so I think this group have been brought up under a different system. Underneath it all, I think ultimately they바카라�re better equipped because of that.바카라�

England continued their Euro 2024 preparations with Saturday바카라�s late 1-0 loss to Brazil and even later Jude Bellingham goal in the 2-2 draw with Belgium three days later.

Southgate바카라�s side have two further warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland in June, with the squad due to fly out to Germany the day after Cole pulls on an England shirt once again in Soccer Aid.

바카라�It바카라�s always nice to go back and play at Stamford Bridge,바카라� he said of the June 9 clash against a World XI at former club Chelsea.

바카라�It always surprises me how popular it is. The kids love it, people tune in, it바카라�s a real family occasion.

바카라�It바카라�s great to be part of and it바카라�s just one of them things that바카라�s a win-win all round for everybody. We love doing it and most importantly it바카라�s for a great cause.바카라�

:: Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 takes place on June 9 at Chelsea바카라�s Stamford Bridge, with tickets available at www.socceraid.org.uk/tickets