For once, England are the team the rest want to avoid… Gareth Southgate won’t be suffering from an inferiority complex – This is the Three Lions’ time and Euro 2024 is theirs to lose!

When Gareth Southgate takes his seat in Hamburg’s iconic Elbphilharmonie concert hall on Saturday night, he will perch comfortably in the knowledge that England are the team everyone wants to avoid.

Group of Death? Who cares. Banana skin? So what? Home nations clash? No problem. Bring. It. On.

Because this is England’s time, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. As ever at these formal soirees, Southgate will be in esteemed company.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, widely recognised as one of European football’s most innovative and forward-thinking minds, will be nearby.

If he scans the auditorium more intently, Southgate may catch a glimpse of France manager Didier Deschamps, a winner and runner-up in his previous two World Cups. He may see Roberto Martinez, now in charge of Portugal. Or the Netherlands’ Ronald Koeman.

The Three Lions boss will know that his side is the one that all the rest will be hoping to avoid

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Southgate won’t be suffering from an inferiority complex, though. Nor should he be. Because, as far-fetched as it sounds to a country so used to failing to deliver, Euro 2024 is England’s tournament to lose; Southgate will rub shoulders with his peers at today’s draw knowing it is his team the rest of Europe would rather dodge.

That isn’t wishful thinking or a warped nationalistic opinion born out of our exposure to the Premier League — it is simply the truth.

Ask England’s rivals about Harry Kane, the captain who has become the goalscoring toast of Bayern Munich. Ask them about Jude Bellingham, the Stourbridge-born kid already at Galactico status with Real Madrid. Ask them about Bukayo Saka, the Champions League’s leading goal contributor this season (three goals, four assists). That’s before we’ve mentioned Declan Rice, John Stones or Kyle Walker.

And, of course, there’s Southgate himself — the man responsible for finally providing the country with a national team worthy of hope. Relatable and engaging off the pitch and a force to be reckoned with on it. England are in a sweet spot.

That comes with its own pressures. If England fail in Germany next summer, the dissenting voices who believe the team have achieved relative success in spite of Southgate will intensify. Indeed, for the second tournament running, Southgate’s future will emerge as an intriguing sub-plot. His contract expires next December, but falling short in Germany is likely to prompt an immediate exit.

That said, if England were to win their first trophy since 1966, surely he will fancy another crack at the World Cup to complete the set. The prospect of being crowned European champions in Berlin on July 14 will be his only focus right now, of course. And the 53-year-old will head into Euro 2024 safe in the knowledge he has a group adept at over- coming the mental tribulations of tournament football.

Kane’s 90th-minute winner in Southgate’s first tournament match, against Tunisia at the 2018 World Cup. Also in Russia, the euphoric penalty shootout win over Colombia — England’s first in tournament football since 1996. Then came the victory over arch-rivals Germany at Euro 2020, then falling behind a week later only to overcome Denmark in reaching the final. All those shared experiences are invaluable, and something Southgate has placed particular stock in.

So when the balls are picked and unscrewed on Saturday night, Southgate will look on knowing his players have already been through the worst of it. All that’s left now is to win.

Harry Kane – playing in Germany with Bayern Munich – scored the first tournament goal under Southgate

Jude Bellingham has gone from Stourbridge to Galatico status at Real Madrid and will star in midfield

Declan Rice has become a crucial part of England’s set up as one of the pivots in midfield

Depending on how Saturday’s draw transpires in terms of logistical and travel requirements for next summer, Southgate and his backroom team will leave no stone unturned in ensuring they create an environment to facilitate a successful tournament.

Southgate is prioritising a secluded location for England’s base in Germany, away from the hustle, bustle and temptation of big city locations.

Deciding on the layout and features of base camp is the easy part. Southgate knows what works and what doesn’t from the previous three tournaments.

Beyond the England branding and Three Lions glass frosting installed at their Souq Al-Wakra base in Qatar, there were relaxation zones, meeting rooms, squad congregation areas to watch the tournament on TV — and that’s not forgetting the inflatable unicorns and basketball hoops.

Pertinently, the players’ families are set to be permitted into camp on specific days, usually 24 hours after matches.

While the thought of screeching children may not represent what many of us would consider optimal preparation for tournament football, Southgate believes letting the kids run riot for a few hours helps players unwind after the intensity of a match day.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is the leading goal contributor in the Champions League this season

The inflatable unicorn from the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 training base became an iconic image of the team

England’s Souq Al-Wakra base in Qatar last winter was comparatively open after recent regimes

England in tournament mode are a well-oiled machine. No WAG circus, no Fabio Capello-style military camp but a meticulous balance which Southgate has found successful.

But ultimately, Euro 2024 will be won or lost on the grass, by the players — of whom England boast some of the very best that world football has to offer.

‘It doesn’t matter, really (who England pull in the draw),’ said Southgate. ‘There looks like being really strong teams in pot two and pot three looks like it could be very strong, too. We’ve just got to be ready for whatever comes our way.’

England are as ready as they’ve ever been.