Spurs and Everton stars must audition properly for Euros success

Gary Lineker’s 3.76m strong army of Twitter followers shows he is a man who holds the nation’s ear, and it’s difficult not to be sympathetic to the former England striker’s social media blast regarding the Three Lions.

The Match of the Day presenter showed his disdain in no uncertain terms with a couple of tweets particularly directed towards the Premier League clubs who he feels are guilty of ignoring the national interest purely to protect their own assets.

Tournament football experience is hugely beneficial. If clubs try and pull their players out it would be a national disgrace.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 30, 2015

In a prior tweet Lineker had also alluded to the fact the U21s had just overcome Germany 3-2 in a friendly, stating that the senior team for next summer ‘must include all our best youngsters.’

This is not a fresh perspective, but it is still an issue that keeps recurring every two years when the U21s have a tournament to attend.

You only have to look at Germany’s current crop of World Cup winners to see what benefit fielding your country’s finest young talent together can yield, as six of those to start the 2014 showpiece also lined up for the victorious 2009 Euro U21 Championship final.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane is the latest player to come under the microscope where the U21s are concerned, having embarked on a truly magnificent breakthrough season.

However, even the likes of Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling, who did gain exposure in Brazil, are hardly seasoned tournament players after one disastrous World Cup campaign which was over in the blink of an eye.

It makes total sense that these players experience more football in such a scenario and if they do, and enjoy success, then the 12/1 about senior glory next summer might just become something more than wildly speculative.

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