The squad maybe doesn't look that inspiring, but I am actually optimistic about our chances this summer.
Yeah Hart has been poor for his club, but we've literally just had several pages of debate on how Messi is one player for his club (the greatest player of all time) and another for his country (an infuriating forward who despite flashes of brilliance frustrates his nation for his inability to reach his potential). Goalkeepers thrive when someone gives them confidence and they flounder without security. Courtois had a bad game the other night but you can bet he'll start the next game. At Liverpool if the keeper has a bad game they replace him, which means they have two goalkeepers with half a manager worth of self belief. Southgate believes in Hart which is why his performances in a white shirt are better, and without some of his saves - I'm not going to say something daft like we'd not have qualified out of that group - we'd probably have had to navigate the play offs.
Our strength in depth as a national team isn't great and it looks worse with injuries and the fact that Southgate keeps naming these daft overly large squads. But if we get a bit of luck and keep our strongest XI fit there's no reason we can't go far in the tournament. England's best performances historically (since 66 anyway) seem to have come when people have written them off (although in the post-Capello era that itself seems to be an approach that some take... "we had no expectations, how dare you disappoint us by not exceeding them!")
Kane, Alli, Sterling, Rashford are our likely starting forward four. Rather than alternating and keeping the whole squad involved why not give them games together where possible in the fixtures leading up to the tournament? I'll admit we don't have a standout pairing at CB right now but I'm willing to have a little faith.
I reckon we'll make the last eight.
Honest!