‘These Are Difficult Calls’: Gareth Southgate Explains Excluding ‘Very Fast’ Forward From Euro 2024 Squad

The provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024 has been announced by the English Football Association (FA) and it contains some surprise exclusions. That includes the absence of Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford in the squad.

England Announce 33-Man Preliminary Squad For Euro 2024

Why Does Rashford Miss Out On The England Squad?

Rashford has made 60 appearances for the England national team since 2016 and scored 17 goals. Despite that, he is not among the forwards to have been named in the initial squad. Instead, the likes of Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze, Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon and West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen have been named.

Gareth Southgate has revealed his decision to snub Rashford from the squad, confirming: “These are difficult calls, you’re talking about players who are very good and have been an important part of things we have done. I just feel that other players in that part of the pitch have had better seasons, as simple as that.

The Manchester United winger, who was hailed for being “very fast” last year, had a disappointing 2023/24 season in which he only scored seven goals in 33 Premier League appearances.

Who Are Some Of The Surprises In England’s Preliminary Euro 2024 Squad?

There are a number of uncapped players to have been named in the England squad. Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Liverpool duo Jarrell Quansah and Curtis Jones are some of the uncapped ones to be named in the squad. This is a reward for their impressive work for respective clubs in the 2023/24 term, even though this squad will be trimmed down to the lower-20s before the Three Lions travel to Germany for Euro 2024.

England tasted bitter defeat in the Euro 2020 final against Italy last time out and are in the hunt for winning their first-ever European Championship. They have been placed in a group with Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia and will begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16. Here is what their initial 33-man preliminary squad looks like.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)