Sven-Goran Eriksson believes that England have a "very good chance" of winning Euro 2024 - and has praised the work Gareth Southgate has done reunite the nation.
The Three Lions are one of the favourites to win the tournament this summer after breezing through qualifying unbeaten with six wins and two draws, scoring 22 goals and conceding just four. They get their competition underway against Serbia on June 16, before tackling other Group C opponents Denmark and Slovenia.
England are knocking at the door having reached a semi-final, a final and a quarter-final during Southgate's tenure, and Eriksson has predicted that this may finally be their year.
However, the ex-Three Lions boss has warned that France are the side to beat in Germany with Didier Deschamps' side looking strong after winning seven of their eight qualifying matches.
When asked if England have a genuine chance at the European Championships, Eriksson told Channel 4: "I think they have a very good chance because they have a very, very good team.
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"But the strength with England today is that they have almost two teams. Maybe France will be a tough opponent, but I can’t see any other country doing very well."
Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, lauded Southgate for the job he has done to bring the group of players together. The ex-Middlesbrough boss was appointed in August 2016 following the departure of Roy Hodgson and has won 57 of his 91 matches in charge to date.
"He's doing very well, it seems to be a very united group of players, the last big tournament was very close and now I think he will win the EUROs," Eriksson added.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has lauded Gareth Southgate (Getty Images)England posses a wealth of talent in their squad including the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Declan Rice. France are the only nation which could possibly match the level of quality, while Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy are among the other favourites to win Euro 2024.
As for Eriksson, he revealed back in January that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The 75-year-old disclosed that doctors fear he has at best a year to live or a little less in the worse case scenario.
Reflecting on the diagnosis, Eriksson said: "You appreciate waking up in the morning and feeling well and normally you don't do that. You take it for granted. In the beginning when you get the diagnosis coming from nowhere, it’s like a shock but after a while you learn to live with it.
"Today I have a normal life and I am not thinking about what's going to happen tomorrow or the day after. Otherwise you sit down and think pity of yourself. No. Leave it. I don't talk about it very much. It is what it is. I can't beat it, probably. Anyhow, life is beautiful."
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