England announced their provisional European Championship 2024 squad on Tuesday and plenty of previous players for Gareth Southgate were left bitterly disappointed.
Gareth Southgate called up 33 players for the friendlies at St. James’ Park and Wembley against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, which will be whittled down to 26 on June 8.
Interestingly, almost half of England’s Euro 2020 group have not been selected.
With the Three Lions boasting such a depth of talent and a fresh crop of youngsters coming through, here an XI of the players Southgate snubbed.
Man United’s Marcus Rashford is one of many notable absentees from Southgate’s Euro squad
Four Chelsea’s big names didn’t make the Three Lions’ training squad camp ahead of Euro
GOALKEEPER
Nick Pope – Pope has been out injured for much of this season, missing 27 games in the Newcastle squad, more than 150 days. After returning, he was benched for three games in a row, but appeared for the final Premier League fixture against Brentford.
His place in the next tournament England’s squad lists is under threat as he has been surpassed by four goalkeepers, including Burnley‘s James Trafford, who has yet to play his a first game for the Three Lions.
Pope didn’t get called for Euro 2024 after he missed a significant part of Newcastle’s campaign
DEFENDERS
REECE JAMES – The full-back was sidelined for most of Chelsea’s season and has persistent injury issues. He missed the 2022 World Cup with a knee problem despite being Southgate’s first choice in the squad.
James’ quality is undeniable when he is fully fit, but his season ended prematurely due to suspension from the red card he picked up for kicking out at Brighton’s Joao Pedro. He’ll be desperate to string a full season together next term to launch himself back into the England reckoning.
FIKAYO TOMORI – Tomori can count himself unfortunate not to be called up after a superb season for AC Milan.
He has played 34 games this season, including all six in the Champions League group stage. In terms of his England experience, Tomori made his debut in 2019 and has played five games since, with his last one against Malta in European Qualifiers.
Reece James was sent off for a reckless kick out at Joao Pedro against Brighton
Fikayo Tomori missed out on selection despite an impressive season for AC Milan
Colwill lost his regular place in Chelsea’s defensive line due to a toe injury picked up in March
LEVI COLWILL – Gareth Southgate faces a dearth of left-footed defenders and even the selected Luke Shaw hasn’t played since February due to a hamstring problem. However, Colwill was still not given the call-up despite Southgate playing him on the left side in a friendly against Australia in October last year.
Colwill was a regular starter for Chelsea throughout the season, but suffered a toe injury in March, causing him to miss 11 games. The 21-year-old returned for the game against West Ham in early May but has not featured since.
BEN CHILWELL – Chilwell has not reached the heights he once hit for Chelsea and England and his omission is no great surprise.
That said, the limited options at left-back could force Southgate into a rethink if Shaw is unable to stay fit.
Midfielders
JORDAN HENDERSON – Former England’s vice-captain career appears to be over after Gareth Southgate left him out of the provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024. It comes after the midfielder decided to accept the £350,000-a-week offer from Al-Ettifaq last summer, where he played just five months before moving to Ajax in January.
His former Liverpool team-mate Jones is set to benefit from Henderson’s exclusion, with the midfielder on the verge of winning his first senior cap.
KALVIN PHILLIPS – There was never really any doubt about Phillips not making it to Germany this summer.
Phillips had previously been a key player under England’s boss, having played all Euro 2020 games but has never secured consistent game time under Pep Guardiola since moving to Man City and his loan spell at West Ham has been underwhelming, to put it mildly.
Jordan Henderson has been a regular inclusion for England’s squad-calls for over a decade
JADON SANCHO – Jadon Sancho’s impressive performances since joining Borussia Dortmund on loan gave Southgate a dilemma ahead of Euro 2024.
However, there was no place given for the winger in 12-strong group of attackers.
Sancho had a productive loan spell but is yet to see international action since 2021 after falling out with Erik ten Hag before his loan to Germany.
RAHEEM STERLING – Sterling has made 82 appearances for England and was the standout player at Euro 2020 on the run to the final.
But Southgate has an embarrassment of riches in attack and out wide and it will be a huge task for the 29-year-old to win back his spot.
Sancho has been outstanding for Borussia Dortmund but was not given a call-up
Forwards
DOMINIC SOLANKE – The Bournemouth striker could not have done much more, scoring 21 times this season. But Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins were given the nod as Harry Kane back-ups.
It seems likely that one of those two players will be cut from the initial 33 so Solanke’s competition is fierce.
Dominic Solanke was left out of England’s Euro squad after an impressive campaign of 21 goals
Rashford endured a disappointing campaign and Southgate was blunt about his exclusion
The England XI of the players who didn’t get called by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024
MARCUS RASHFORD – The Man United forward only managed seven goals and two assists this season in one of his most disappointing campaigns to date. The Englishman has been electric at times for his country but with his club form so far from his best, it would have been a surprise to see him included.
‘With Marcus I just feel that players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons, it’s as simple as that,’ Southgate said.
While Rashford took to social media and wrote: ‘Wishing Gareth and the boys all the best for the up and coming tournament.