Gareth Southgate has named his provisional England squad for Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate has named England’s training squad for Euro 2024 and it includes five big-name omissions. The long list of 33 players will be trimmed down to the required 26 before the tournament, but those left out at this stage stand no chance of booking their spot on the plane to Germany.
Ahead of warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park and Iceland at Wembley early next month, Southgate has called up uncapped hopefuls like the Liverpool duo of Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace starlet Adam Wharton.
That means a number of seasoned tournament-goers have been squeezed out. The most glaring omission of all was that of Marcus Rashford, who will not be at this summer’s Euros despite appearing at the last four major tournaments for England.
Jordan Henderson has also been left out by Southgate, with the 33-year-old failing to make the cut in spite of his return to Europe with Ajax in January.
Adam Wharton has impressed in the Premier League since joining Crystal Palace in January
The Chelsea full-back pairing of Ben Chilwell and Reece James have been omitted following injury-hit campaigns. Both players were tipped to be England regulars by this point in their careers but a frustrating 2023/24 has taken its toll.
Also left out of the provisional squad was Raheem Sterling. The 29-year-old has not played for the Three Lions since 2022 but his absence is still notable, as a player with 20 goals in 82 appearances at international level, and one still seven months shy of his 30th birthday.
Southgate has seemingly switched his focus towards giving England’s young talent a chance to impress over the coming weeks. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, has made the cut after impressing in the nation’s most recent round of friendlies.
Palace star Eberechi Eze may get the chance to add to his tiny haul of England caps after making Southgate’s training squad, and the Eagles’ presence continued in defence with Marc Guehi and Dean Henderson also included.
With Rashford left out after scoring seven Premier League goals for United this term, eyebrows were raised at the inclusion of Jack Grealish, who only found the net three times and started 10 league matches for Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Luke Shaw was named by Southgate amid a shortage of natural left-back options. And there was also space for Ivan Toney, James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen as the Three Lions head into this summer’s Euros among the favourites.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton, Jude Bellingham
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1901815/england-euro-2024-squad-announcement-gareth-southgate