Are English football fans optimistic ahead of Euro 2016?

Whilst much hype and sensation has usually surrounded the English national team in the run up to previous major international tournaments, such an outcome seemingly hasn’t taken place for Roy Hodgson and his determined Three Lions squad this time around, for the thought of England actually doing their nation proud at Euro 2016 remains an elusive a prospect as ever.

 

Yet as a promising selection of young English players have made several strong claims for themselves across the 2015/16 domestic campaign thus far, with a whole new generation of England fans coming to terms with what the glory of international football really has to offer, perhaps the tides of change may just be coming for the Three Lions at this summer’s hotly anticipated competition.

 

So then, are the English national team all set to take Euro 2016 by storm, or will the same old sense of disappointment once again haunt every Three Lions supporter expecting big things this year? The fans have certainly begun to have their say…

 

Well, although England have admittedly failed to set the international game alight for quite a sustained period of time truth be told, some loyal Three Lions supporters nonetheless remains somewhat confident at this particular stage…

 

Too optimistic for #EURO2016. @england have a chance if all their players step up for once at a major tournament.

— Luke Vinton (@LukeVinton97) 31 December 2015

 

…especially as several young players have seemingly emerged among the English top-flight of late…

 

Players like #DeliAlli give me reason to be at least a little optimistic for #euro2016 #england

— Rick Oliver (@RickRojoOliver) 23 January 2016

 

Yet even in light of this newfound sense of optimism regarding Roy Hodgson’s squad, the vast majority of English football fans have seemingly given up hope on Euro 2016 already…

 

Don't really understand why England are favourites V Wales according to the pundits. England are poor. #EURO2016

— Scott Brotherton (@ScottBrothertn) 12 December 2015

 

…and seeing as some Premier League watchers have failed to be impressed with the current England captain in 2015/16…

 

#Vardy #Kane #Carrol & #Sturridge if all fit would be my picks for #England @FA this #EURO2016 #Rooney just not same player. Poor season.

— Hoosier_Scot (@rwm113) 13 February 2016

 

…perhaps England wouldn’t represent anything close to tournament favourites at Euro 2016 in the cold light of day…

 

Every time I get excited about England's chances in #EURO2016 I remember who our manager is and realise we have no chance.

— Obiwanshinoobie (@Samos89) 5 March 2016

 

That seemingly hasn’t stopped certain England fans from finding hope this summer however…

 

Having won all their qualifiers for the 1st time since 1954 I believe England will triumphantly march all the way to the Euro 2016 QF.

— dan almond (@pompeyrabbi) 13 October 2015

 

…and as both Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur have certainly impressed among the upper echelons of the Premier League table this season…

 

With Kane and Vardy upfront for England we could actually do something! #EURO2016

— Adam (@jibbledibber) 13 March 2016

 

…maybe one of the aforementioned players could go down as a smart bet for highest tournament goal-scorer when all is said and done…

 

Kane and Vardy both got 19 PL-goals. England always looks best before the actual tournament #Euro2016 pic.twitter.com/1MnLawKlaG

— Stefan Pflug (@Stefan_Pflug) 14 March 2016

 

At the end of the day, this current England team are not exactly deserving of the traditional sense of hype that would usually come their way…

 

All this talk of vardy for England yet our number 1 GK is awful.. euro 2016 will show no change for us!!!

— Legend Eski (@LegendEskimoBoy) 6 February 2016

 

…but as anything could happen at this summer’s upcoming competition…

 

We know that for all #England fans the moto #keepthefaith rings very true and we hope for a great #Euro2016 for the boys in white and red!

— KeeptheFaithClothing (@KeeptheFaithTee) 13 March 2016

 

…perhaps now would represent an opportune moment to place your bets on England finally doing their fans proud at Euro 2016 after all!