England manager Gareth Southgate has named a 33-player training squad for the 2024 European Championship, with a number of big names ruled out of this summer’s European Championships in Germany.
Southgate will reduce his squad to 26 players on Saturday, June 8, after friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Newcastle and then Iceland at Wembley.
The England manager has included a number of surprise players in his first training squad, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarrell Quansah on Southgate’s longlist.
Led by Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Premier League Player of the Year Phil Foden, the Three Lions will be among the favorites to go one better than last time and win the European Championship.
England reached the final three years ago, suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Italy on penalties in the Wembley final. However, here’s a look at some of those who missed the plane to Germany…
Marcus Rashford
Arguably the biggest omission from Southgate’s selection as the Manchester United striker pays the price for a poor season on the pitch, scoring just eight goals in all competitions. The form of other attacking options – namely Anthony Gordon on the left wing at Newcastle – means Rashford will miss a major international tournament for the first time since he was 18 at Euro 2016.
It’s a big change: Rashford has been a near-constant presence for Southgate since the England manager took charge. But the forward has not been the same player this season after scoring 30 goals in all competitions for Manchester United last season. Striker is the most competitive part of the England squad and Rashford simply hasn’t played well enough to fit in.
Jordan Henderson
A big surprise given Southgate’s loyalty to the midfielder and the experience and leadership he brought to the camp. Henderson has represented England at the last six major tournaments, but the former Liverpool captain will not be attending Euro 2024.
The 33-year-old will certainly regret last summer’s controversial move to Saudi Arabia, while a move to Ajax in January did not help his cause either. Henderson was included in Southgate’s squad for March’s friendlies, but the performances of youngsters Kobbie Mainoo, Curtis Jones and Adam Wharton mean one of England’s vice-captains has been included in Southgate’s plans.
Raheem Sterling
That’s hardly a shock as Sterling hasn’t been in an England squad since the World Cup, but the forward has been a key part of every major tournament under Gareth Southgate and since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Only Harry Kane has scored more goals for England under Southgate than 29-year-old Sterling.
Ben Chillwell
Luke Shaw was included in the squad despite missing the end of the season due to injury, but Chilwell did not recover in time. The Chelsea defender has not played since last month and his absence leaves a hole at left-back, also given doubts over Shaw’s fitness.
Jadon Sancho
The Borussia Dortmund winger may start in the Champions League final at Wembley next weekend, but he will not go to the European Championship. Sancho has responded fantastically to a difficult spell at Manchester United by finding form on his return to Dortmund, and was sensational in the semi-final win over Paris Saint-Germain, but it comes too late to get back into the English selection. His last call was three years ago, just after the previous European Championship.
Ben White
In March, Southgate said the “door is open” for White to play at Euro 2024 if the Arsenal defender decided to make himself available for England. Either that hasn’t happened or Southgate has looked elsewhere as the right-back is not on the plane despite playing a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge.
Ree James
The Chelsea captain has made just 11 appearances this season due to injury and has played just 31 minutes since the turn of the year. Right-back is one of the team’s strongest departments, with Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier selected and Trent Alexander-Arnold, although listed as a midfielder, also an option there. James hasn’t played enough to be considered a better alternative.
Levi Colwill
Chelsea’s versatile defender could have helped England’s injury crisis at left-back but was overlooked by Southgate, with Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa and Lewis Dunk preferred. The 21-year-old has not played since March due to injury.
Mason Mountain
Another who paid the price for a dismal season at his club. Mount was a starter at the 2020 Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup, but he has barely played this season due to injury and has struggled while fit for Manchester United. The 25-year-old has fallen out of contention.
Kalvin Philips
Philipps was a key starter for England at the last European Championship, as Sotuthgate’s side reached the Wembley final. Philipps is therefore left out of the 2024 European Championship. That is actually no surprise, as Philipps has hardly played in the past two seasons. After being left on the bench of Manchester City, his January loan to West Ham was a disaster.
Dominic Solanke
The striker could not have done much more after scoring 19 sensational Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season, but Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins head to Germany as Southgate’s more established options. Bad luck, I think.
The England training squad ahead of Euro 2024
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.
Forward: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.