Rashford, Henderson and Sterling OUT of England squad but Luke Shaw among shock names on initial list ahead of Euro 2024
Southgate has cast serious doubt over the futures of two of his regular squad members
RUTHLESS Gareth Southgate has sensationally axed Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson from England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.
The two Three Lions regulars were left out along with Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Reece James as Southgate axed a host of former favourites.
Gareth Southgate’s Full England Squad For Euro 2024
As have former Liverpool stars Henderson and Sterling.
And Chilwell and James, when they’ve been fit, have been one of The Three Lions chief’s preferred left and right backs.
But Southgate has decided to leave the United, Ajax and Chelsea stars out of 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 all part of the squad.
The snubbing of Rashford may not come as a surprise to some given his poor form last season.
The 26-year-old found the back of the net eight times in 42 appearances for the Red Devils.
The exclusion of Henderson from the provisional squad has come as a huge surprise.
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The 33-year-old has been part of the squad for the three tournaments which have taken place during Southgate’s reign.
He played in a further three tournaments under former Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.
Rash Decision?
MARCUS RASHFORD will be hurting, but he can have no complaints.
His omission from Gareth Southgate’s 30-man provisional Euros squad has been a long time coming with his Manchester United form plummeting week on week.
And this term has seen England boss Southgate – a loyal selector of the United forward during his darkest moments – make one of the toughest calls of his tenure to date.
Rashford, 26, has scored just eight goals in all competitions for Erik ten Hag’s side this campaign – his joint-second worst return in his entire career.
He had a decent impact at the Qatar World Cup last November, scoring twice, and netted most recently in a 3-1 home win over Italy in Euros qualifying last October.
But they were just fleeting moments in what has been dismal period for the Red Devil. Hopefully this is the catalyst that will prompt him to turn his career around.
It’s unclear if the snub from the Euro 2024 squad will mark the end of Henderson’s international career.
It could very well be that Southgate believes he’s not played enough first-team football to warrant a place in the squad.
He made 12 appearances in all competitions for Ajax last season.
But he was out for almost six weeks due to injury, although he did return for the Dutch giants’ final three league matches of the season.
Henderson’s loss has been the gain of teenage Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Southgate handed the teen his first caps in England‘s recent matches against Brazil and Belgium and was blown away by his displays.
He said: “He seems very calm. You can see he is taking everything in
“Talking to him tactically, he seems able to take all those concepts on.
A lot of young players now, with their academy education, are able to do that. You can see his comfort with the ball and receiving in tight areas.”
“There are a lot of steps being taken in a very short period of time, but you saw in the brief cameo the other day [against Brazil] some of the qualities he has.
“Sometimes, with the really young ones, they are not even thinking about that.”
The omission of Sterling hasn’t come as a 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 set to be England’s starting left back in the absence of Chilwell, who only made 21 appearances last season due to injury.
Southgate wields the axe
INTERNATIONAL football’s Mr Conservative has taken a machete to his squad in one of the most brutal England squad shake-ups in recent memory.
Gareth Southgate has built a reputation in the Three Lions hot-seat by sticking to what he knows, and who he knows, in order to navigate major tournaments without any dramas.
Reliable, experienced faces with trust in the bank and little to no surprises on offer that have managed to reach finals and semi-finals in tournaments gone by.
But ahead of this summer’s Euros – a competition that England are expected to win and win well – Southgate appears to be throwing caution to the wind in a bid to excite and amaze.
Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have all been left out of Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad – the latter three boarded the plane to Qatar in November 2022.
And in come the young guns – Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley keeper James Trafford.
Is Southgate finally picking on current form and potential instead of past heroics? It looks that way.
The future is bright, and Southgate is ready to shake things up in order to reflect that.