Marcus Rashford has been involved in four major tournaments with England but misses out on Euro 2024 after a difficult season with Manchester United where he has fallen out of form
Gareth Southgate brutally axed Marcus Rashford from the Euros – and then challenged the Manchester United striker to prove him wrong.
England boss Southgate admitted it was a tough phone call to tell Rashford he had not even made the 33-man training squad ahead of this summer’s tournament. Rashford, 26, was the big-name omission while Jordan Henderson and Ben Chilwell were the other major calls plus there was no place for Raheem Sterling.
United striker Rashford, who has scored 17 goals in 60 caps and played in four major tournaments, has suffered a huge drop in form for his club and is even sweating on his place for the FA Cup final on Saturday. Southgate said: “He will be hugely disappointed. He wants to play for England, he loves playing for England and the opportunity to play in tournaments is why you play international football.
“But again he was really respectful. I said to him: ‘You’ve got to go and score a couple of goals at the weekend now and put things right.’
“You are conscious for Marcus and Hendo really of the impact because they are two people who externally, they have people jump on them very quickly. And I think they know I am there to support them.
“Even though this has been a difficult conversation, both were really professional, really respectful. But of course I am aware that that creates a bit more drama in their lives which I don’t want them to experience but is a reality of the decision I’ve made.”
Rashford now faces an uncertain future on his own club form as he has not scored for United since March 17 with a growing belief he could move this summer after a disappointing campaign. He took to social media to insist there were no hard feelings as he wrote: “Wishing Gareth and the boys all the best for the up and coming tournament.”
Southgate did stress that it was a training squad and that he needs 22 players to take part with both the Manchester United and City players involved in the FA Cup final plus Real Madrid ’s Jude Bellingham will not be involved until after the Champions League final.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has Southgate made the right call in dropping Rashford? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
England plan to give City and United players an extra week’s rest after Wembley while Bellingham will not play for the Three Lions until the tournament itself. Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah plus Crystal Palace ’s Adam Wharton were the new call-ups but there are major doubts on United left-back Luke Shaw.
The squad gets trimmed from 33 to 26 on Saturday June 8 after the two friendlies with Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland before they fly to Germany two days later. Southgate added on Shaw: “He is a long shot. He is up against it. He’s working with the medical team. Erik ten Hag will be able to update you more on that as their week progresses because Manchester United have a final on Saturday.”
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