The biggest compliment I could give Gareth Southgate’s current England side is that they already edge the Golden Generation.
On paper, you’d say: ‘Definitely not’. The likes of Rooney, Rio, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and Ashley Cole were outstanding players. Better players. Legends. But as a team - with the emphasis on team - this England side has already gone further, to a major tournament final.
The Golden Generation were individual warriors but as a team their major tournament failures against top nations left them scarred. Think Portugal in 2006, Germany in 2010, Italy knocking us out of Euro2012 and even Iceland dumping us out of Euro 2016 in the last 16.
