HARRY KANE TO LEAD ENGLAND AT EURO 2024 AS SOUTHGATE NAMES PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Gareth Southgate has made some surprising choices and left out some big names as he announces his 33-man provisional England squad for Euro 2024. The squad will be trimmed down to 26 before the team flies out to Germany with the ultimate goal of bringing football home.
DEFENCE: ONLY FOUR GUARANTEED STARTERS AGAINST SERBIA
When England takes on Serbia in their opening group stage game on 16 June in Gelsenkirchen, there are only four players who are certain to start. One of them is Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper who has been Gareth Southgate’s number one since the 2018 World Cup. Pickford has had an outstanding season with the Toffees and will be a key player for England.
Right-back has been a position of abundance for England in the past, but the options are now limited. Reece James is out due to injury, having missed almost the entire season, and Ben White has declared himself unavailable.
ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR EURO 2024:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), 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 (Man Utd), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Man City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Forwards: Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
KYLE WALKER TO START AT RIGHT-BACK, JOHN STONES AND HARRY MAGUIRE LIKELY TO PARTNER IN DEFENCE
With Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold unavailable, the reliable Kyle Walker will take his place in the starting XI. Walker, who captained Manchester City to their fourth consecutive Premier League title, has proven his worth time and time again.
John Stones has faced fitness challenges, but if he is available, he will likely start alongside his regular centre-back partner, Harry Maguire. However, Maguire is still recovering from a calf injury, so Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is next in line.
As Southgate finalizes his squad, England fans eagerly await the team’s journey in Euro 2024, hoping for a triumphant return of football to its rightful home.
Jordan Pickford is set to be England’s No.1 goalkeeper for the fourth consecutive tournament, according to reports. However, there are concerns over the fitness of left-back Ben Chilwell, leaving Luke Shaw as the only natural option. Shaw’s lack of game time and fitness issues may hinder his chances of playing, with manager Gareth Southgate admitting it is a ‘long-shot’. Kieran Trippier is expected to fill the gap, but he also has injury problems of his own. This could open the door for Joe Gomez to showcase his versatility in defense.
Moving on to the midfield, the selection appears to be much easier. Declan Rice, who recently joined Arsenal for a whopping £100 million, is expected to be a key player in the team. Jude Bellingham, who is considered a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or, is also set to feature prominently. However, the absence of Jordan Henderson has left a question mark over the identity of the third midfielder. Kobbie Mainoo, a promising teenager from Manchester United, seemed to be a strong contender but his recent form has dipped. Another potential option is Adam Wharton, although he has never played for the senior team. Conor Gallagher from Chelsea and Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold are also in contention, with the latter’s passing ability giving him an advantage against deep-lying opponents.
In terms of the attack, England has a wealth of options to choose from. Bukayo Saka, the talented Arsenal winger, is considered undroppable on the right flank. Phil Foden, who has been confirmed to start regardless of the circumstances, will likely feature on the left side. The 23-year-old is often desired in a central role, but his versatility and exceptional performances in the Premier League make him a threat wherever he plays. Overall, while there are some uncertainties in the squad, the starting XI for England’s Euro 2024 opener seems to be taking shape.
