We’ve now seen the two tournament favourites in action and you have to say they had similar results and performances from their opening games at Euro 2024.

Both England and France got the job done with 1-0 wins in their first games against Serbia and Austria respectively, but the mood from both camps is that they would have maybe hoped for more of a statement and more promise from their performances.

In international tournaments, it’s a cliche but the big point is that its how you finish a tournament not how you start it, and we saw at the World Cup in 2022 for example that Argentina lost their first game against Saudi Arabia and then went on to win the whole thing. So there is definitely truth in this, and players have to feel their way into the tournament.

The most important thing is they both got their wins and made the right start to the tournament, as we have seen a few shock results already with Belgium and their golden era of players losing to Slovakia. England started their game really well and Jude Bellingham in particular looked fired up.

He is confident and you can see when he demands for the ball his teammates give it to him. That’s what’s called a footballer that no only has the confidence, but keeps showing us why he is so good.

He got his goal and was the standout player for England. He’s a natural winner and this is the mentality you want all your players to have as a coach.

Towards the end of the first half and all of the second half England sat back a bit and while they did hold out, the fans wanted a bit more from their talent.

It was a similar story for France, who got their goal from and Mbappe cross deflecting off a defender’s head into his own net. Kante was a standout player for France, shwoing us his ball winning and energy is still at the top level, and it was good to see after he has been off many European fans’ radars after his move to the Middle East.

Mbappe broke his nose and is now a doubt for France’s next game against the Netherlands, my country who also started their campaign with a 2-1 win over Poland.

It was not a Poland side that would sit back and wait, they even tried to press high up the field and put pressure on Holland. Koeman took about 10 minutes to change his side with Frimpong and Wijnaldum, but it was Weghorst who came on and did what was expected to get the win over the line.

England and France will be looking to build some momentum in their next games, but both of their fixtures should be tougher on paper, with England facing Denmark who drew their opening game with Eriksen scoring.