On Tuesday, Marcus Rashford paid the price for a terrible season as the Manchester United forward was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024. This marks the first time since the 2014 World Cup that Rashford will miss a major international tournament.
In addition to Rashford, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Chelsea skipper Reece James are notable absences from the squad. Southgate must trim this preliminary squad down to 26 before the tournament kicks off in Germany. The squad selection has sparked significant discussion, particularly due to the exclusion of such high-profile players.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton received his first-ever call-up as a reward for his club’s impressive finish to the Premier League season. Joining Wharton in the ranks of uncapped players are Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Liverpool duo Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones, highlighting Southgate’s current defensive challenges.
England is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 and Iceland on June 7 before heading to Germany, where they are considered one of the favorites to win the tournament. The abundance of attacking options available to Southgate means that Rashford, who has only scored eight times in 42 appearances for Manchester United this season and has struggled with injuries, misses out.
“These are difficult calls. With Marcus, I just feel other players in that area have had better seasons. It’s as simple as that,” Southgate explained. Rashford responded graciously on social media, wishing Gareth and the team all the best.
Henderson, who moved to Ajax in January after a brief stint in Saudi Arabia, also misses out. Southgate cited Henderson’s injury woes as a determining factor. “Henderson’s given himself every chance. The determining factor was the injury he picked up in the last (international) camp,” Southgate said. “He missed five weeks and wasn’t able to get back up to the level of intensity. It was a difficult decision.”
The same rationale applies to Jadon Sancho, despite his recent resurgence while on loan at Borussia Dortmund from Manchester United. Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling and Kalvin Phillips, who have been key players for Southgate in past tournaments, were also overlooked.
Southgate has assembled a formidable array of creative talents, including Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Manchester City’s Phil Foden, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. These players are expected to provide ample support for England’s all-time top goalscorer, Harry Kane. England’s campaign to end a 58-year wait for a major tournament victory begins against Serbia on June 16, followed by matches against Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.
The Three Lions have previously come close to glory under Southgate, losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. They also reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Reflecting on these near-misses, Southgate remains cautiously optimistic about England’s prospects at Euro 2024.
“Are we one of those teams who can win? Of course,” Southgate stated. “I’d be an idiot if I said no, but if I said yes, that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work ahead of us. They know what is possible, they know what they’ve won at club level and what that’s taken. You can see cup football, you have to navigate game-by-game.”
As the tournament approaches, England fans will be hoping that Southgate’s blend of experienced campaigners and promising new talents can finally end the nation’s long wait for a major international trophy. The decisions made in the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the team’s success and Southgate’s legacy as England manager.
Provisional England squad for Euro 2024:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones (both Manchester City), Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire (both Manchester United), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez (both Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones (both Liverpool)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/GER), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), James Maddison (Tottenham), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/ESP), Phil Foden, Jack Grealish (both Manchester City), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
