RUTHLESS Gareth Southgate has sensationally dropped Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson from England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.
Two Three Lions regulars were left out along with Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Reece James as Southgate dropped a host of former favourites.
Gareth Southgate’s full England squad for Euro 2024
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Marcus Rashford has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s preliminary Euro 2024 squad Credit: Reuters
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Southgate also ignored former mainstay Jordan Henderson
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Raheem Sterling was also sent offCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Ben Chilwell also missed the call Credit: Rex
As well as former Liverpool stars Henderson and Sterling.
And Chilwell and James, when fit, were some of the Three Lions boss’ favorite left and right backs.
But Southgate has decided to leave out the United, Ajax and Chelsea stars from his provisional 30-plus squad for this summer’s tournament.
Southgate has made EIGHT shock inclusions in his provisional squad.
Curtis Jones, James Trafford, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi, Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and Dean Henderson are part of the squad.
The dismissal of Rashford may not come as a surprise to some given his poor form last season.
The 26-year-old has netted eight times in 42 appearances for the Red Devils.
The exclusion of Henderson from the provisional squad is a big surprise.
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The 33-year-old has been part of the squad for three tournaments held during Southgate’s reign.
He played in three more tournaments under former Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.
Gareth Southgate looks ahead to his provisional Euro 2024 squad after picking up injury in England
Hasty decision?
Author: Jordan Davies
MARCUS RASHFORD will be injured, but he can’t complain.
His omission from Gareth Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad for the Euros was long overdue with his Manchester United form slipping week by week.
And this tenure has seen England manager Southgate – a loyal forward coach for United during its darkest moments – make one of the toughest decisions of his tenure to date.
Rashford, 26, has scored just eight goals in all competitions for Erik ten Hag’s side this season – his joint second-worst return of his entire career.
He had a decent performance at the World Cup in Qatar last November, scoring twice, most recently netting in a 3-1 home win over Italy in a Euro qualifier last October.
But these were only fleeting moments in this sad period for the Red Devil. Hopefully this is the catalyst that will push him to change his career.
It is not clear whether the cancellation of the Euro 2024 squad will mark the end of Henderson’s international career.
It’s very possible that Southgate believes he hasn’t played enough first-team football to deserve a place in the squad.
Last season, he made 12 appearances for Ajax in all competitions.
But he was out for almost six weeks with the injury, although he returned for the Dutch giants’ last three league games of the season.
Henderson’s loss is Manchester United teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo’s gain.
Southgate handed the teenager his first caps in England’s recent matches against Brazil and Belgium and was delighted with his displays.
He said: “He seems very calm. You can see he’s taking it all in
“Talking to him tactically, he seems to be able to embrace all those concepts.
A lot of young players now, with an academic education, can do that. You can see his comfort with the ball and receiving in tight areas.”
“It’s a lot of steps taken in a very short period of time, but you saw in a short episode the other day [against Brazil] some of the features it has.
“Sometimes, with the really young ones, they don’t even think about it.”
Sterling’s omission is no surprise given his mixed form for Chelsea this season.
The winger made 43 appearances for the Blues last season, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is expected to be England’s starting left-back in the absence of Chilwell, who made just 21 appearances last season due to injury.
Southgate swings the axe
Author: Jordan Davies
International football’s Mr Conservative has taken the machete to his team in one of the most brutal upheavals of an England team in recent memory.
Gareth Southgate has built a reputation in the hot Three Lions bench by sticking to what he knows and who he knows, to get through major tournaments without any drama.
Reliable, experienced faces with confidence in the bank and few or no surprises in the lineup that managed to reach the final and semi-finals in past tournaments.
But ahead of this summer’s Euros – a competition England are expected to win and do well – Southgate appears to be throwing caution to the wind in his bid to excite and dazzle.
Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling were left out of Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad – the latter three boarding the plane to Qatar in November 2022.
And there are also young players coming – Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford.
Is Southgate finally opting for current form and potential over past heroics? That’s what it looks like.
The future is bright and Southgate is ready to shake things up to reflect that.
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Source: HIS Education