Miracles do happen! Despite a slow start to their campaign, the men’s England team are in the Euro 2024 final. Ahead of Sunday’s game against Spain we take a look at the players who have professed faith in Jesus
They say there are no atheists in the trenches, but perhaps the same can be said of football stadiums during an England match.
Once again, supporters were kept on the edge of their seat during England’s tense 2-1 win over Netherlands, in which many a non-believing fan may have been enticed to say a prayer.
Inspired by manager Gareth Southgate’s mantra of respect and hard work, the young, clean-cut squad reached the finals of Euro 2020 and narrowly missed out on a semi-final place at the 2022 World Cup. Now, they are through to another major tournament final.
As well as talent and hard work, many of the players also credit their faith in God as playing large part in their footballing success. We take a look at the Christian faith of some of the squad.
Ivan Toney – ‘I pray before each match’
Ivan Toney’s footballing story is, in itself, one of redemption. After helping Brentford win promotion to the Premiership in 2021, he made his England début in 2023 but, shortly after, received an eight-month ban for breaching Premier League betting rules.
Returning to Premiership football and the England squad this year, like many footballers, 28-year-old Toney wears his Christian faith inked across his body. On his back, a list of the Ten Commandments. Most visibly, a large cross can be seen on the striker’s neck.
Toney was raised a devout Christian by his mum, Lisa. Speaking to reporters earlier this year, he said that he “still says a prayer that his nan told him before every match”.
The striker can also often be seen pointing to the sky after scoring, as a way of acknowledging God in his footballing success, or praying before matches.
Eberechi Eze - ‘God is at the centre of my life’
His Instagram profile picture shows Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze making the sign of the cross. His bio simply reads: “Gods Mercy”.
In an interview with GQ magazine, Eze said God was at the centre of his life, and that he didn’t know how he would navigate life without his Christian faith.
Last year, following a lengthy rehabilitation after an achilles injury, the footballer told The New York Times that his faith brought perspective during tough times: “Football can get super intense and you can get caught up in it all,” he said, “but my faith allows me to realign my focus and know there’s something greater and that there’s a deeper purpose as to why I’m in the position I’m in.”
A south Londoner who is passionate about the place he grew up, the 26-year-old midfielder has recently started his own charitable foundation to create internships and work experience opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Bukayo Saka - ‘God has my back’
Much has already been written about the Christian faith of the young winger who has shot to fame in recent years scoring goals aplenty for both club (Arsenal) and country. At the vanguard of a new-look England squad that emerged during the last Euros, Saka has spoken regularly about his Christian faith.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Saka told reporters that he reads his Bible “every night”, adding that “God’s plan is perfect, so I can go on the pitch and know that God has my back.”
After scoring the equaliser and then burying his penalty in England’s quarter-final victory against Switzerland, the 22-year-old deservedly won man of the match. When asked how he found the character to overcome the pressure of his missed penalty in the Euro 2020 final (and the racist abuse that followed) the starboy simply replied: “I have faith in God”.
Marc Guéhi – ‘God comes first’
As the England team took to the pitch before their semi-final match against Netherlands, centre-back Marc Guéhi could be seen kneeling and praying as he took his place in the back three.
Another Crystal Palace player, the defender is the son of a pastor and attended a Church of England secondary school. He credits his close knit family for instilling in him the importance of education and faith alongside his exceptional footballing talent.
In an interview with The Athletic, he said his Christian faith was “definitely a big part of my life” and that, through football, he tries “to be a role model and show God’s graciousness and God’s glory through my life.”
Despite the demands of professional football, Guéhi is rumoured to still enjoy playing the drums in his church worship band when schedules allow.
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