Southgate Unveils Final England Team For Euro 2024 Amid Tough Decisions
Gareth Southgate has expressed his enthusiasm for the players selected in his 26-man squad for Euro 2024. The announcement on Thursday confirmed that James Maddison, Curtis Jones, and Harry Maguire were excluded from the preliminary 33-man list. Additionally, Jack Grealish, James Trafford, Jarell Quansah, and Jarrad Branthwaite will not participate in the tournament.
Despite these notable omissions, Southgate is optimistic about the attacking potential of his team. "I'm excited," he stated during a press conference. "Against Bosnia-Herzegovina, we had many experienced attacking players not starting, yet we still had a lot of goals in the team. We saw some fantastic performances that highlighted our options in the attacking area."
Southgate acknowledged the unpredictability of tournaments but emphasised the experience within the squad. "There's always the unknown in a tournament, but we have a lot of experience from big matches with their clubs," he said. "It's impossible to say if it's the squad you wanted. It's the squad we've picked that we feel is best equipped at this moment."
The exclusion of Maddison and Grealish was particularly tough for Southgate. "They've all been amazing with how they've dealt with it," he noted. "But I know it's a difficult day for them and their teammates. We've got players who have been playing extremely well all season, and we feel others have had stronger seasons, especially in the past six months."
Regarding Maguire's absence, Southgate explained it was due to a calf injury that has sidelined him since April. "The decision on Harry is totally about his physical condition and his recovery from injury," he clarified. "There is no other reason; he is one of our strongest centre-backs."
Quansah remains on standby for the Iceland game on Friday, while Branthwaite was also left out despite having a strong season. "It's a bit early for Jarrad," Southgate said. "He has had a fabulous season; it was good to get him on the pitch the other night. But in an ideal world, you'd like that balance of left-footers."
Luke Shaw remains the only recognised left-back in the squad, a calculated risk according to Southgate. "At left-back, that's why we've taken what I think is a calculated risk with Luke Shaw," he explained.
| Position | Player | Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkeeper | Jordan Pickford | Everton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkeeper | Aaron Ramsdale | Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Lewis Dunk | Brighton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Joe Gomez | Liverpool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Marc Guehi | Crystal Palace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Ezri Konsa | Aston Villa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Luke Shaw | Manchester United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | John Stones | Manchester City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Kieran Trippier | Newcastle United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Kyle Walker | Manchester City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defender | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midfielder | Conor Gallagher | Chelsea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midfielder | Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midfielder | Declan Rice | Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midfielder | Adam Wharton | Crystal Palace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midfielder | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | Jarrod Bowen | West Ham United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | Eberechi Eze | Crystal Palace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phil Foden | Manchester City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Gordon | Newcastle United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ivan Toney | Brentford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ollie Watkins | Aston VillaEngland will face Iceland in their final friendly before starting their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia in Group C on June 16, followed by matches against Denmark and Slovenia. |
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