Wednesday, December 18, 2024

England Euro 2024 full squad confirmed this week, with seven stars set for axe

Must read

Gareth Southgate has to whittle down his provisional England squad for Euro 2024 this weekend.

The Three Lions boss has named an initial 33-man squad before he cuts this down to 26 players for Euro 2024 this summer.

Southgate has a big decision to make ahead of the summerCredit: Getty

Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson are two notable omissions given their experience and past contributions for the national team.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit previews France and Englands chance at Euro 2024

Seven more players will now be axed from Southgate’s squad after their two pre-tournament friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland.

When is the England Euro 2024 squad announcement?

The England preliminary squad was confirmed on Tuesday, May 21.

Southgate will then finalise his Euros squad with an announcement on Saturday June 8, six days before the tournament begins.

Southgate is expected to announce his picks to the media at 2pm.

talkSPORT will be at St George’s Park to bring you live coverage of the announcement and will speak to the England boss.

England beat Bosnia 3-0 on Monday in their first friendly and will next face Iceland, live on talkSPORT, on Friday before Southgate submits his final 26 picks.

UEFA has increased the squad size for this summer’s tournament from 23 to 26 players, and the deadline for nations to submit final squads is the day of the Iceland friendly – Friday, June 7.

Rashford’s poor form for United has led to him being left out by Southgate

Who is at risk of not making the England squad for Euro 2024?

Southgate has named several players with injury concerns in the initial training squad.

He faces a number of fitness issues, particularly at full-back.

Luke Shaw has not played for Manchester United since February and is currently training alone.

Southgate has already confirmed that Euro 2020 final goalscorer Shaw is likely to be among the seven axed stars due to his fitness.

Elsewhere, Harry Maguire, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane were all on the sidelines for the final week of the season due to minor problems.

Maguire is still out, along with Anthony Gordon, who has a minor ankle problem but Kane appeared off the bench against Bosnia.

Southgate has named four goalkeepers in his 33-man squad, with Burnley’s James Trafford expected to be the one that misses out.

Merseyside trio – Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite – are likely to be on the chopping board.

Meanwhile, Southgate will be delighted that Jude Bellingham made it through the Champions League final unscathed.

James Maddison is in despite failing to hit his best of form for Spurs in recent weeksCredit: Getty

What is England’s best XI?

Former England ace Ashley Young – who will part of talkSPORT’s Euros coverage – wants to see Southgate select an XI that will ‘take the game to England’s opponents’.

The Everton veteran and Gabby Agbonlahor agreed that Shaw makes the cut if he’s fit, but that then raised the question of who would take his place.

Young said: “If we’re talking about set piece delivery, Trippier is definitely the man.

He added: “I think we’ve definitely got to take the game to the opponents. I don’t think we should be scared of any opponents. I don’t think players should go into a tournament worried about what they’re coming up against.

“I think with Gareth, I know how it is, everything is about what we do and not what another team does.”

Young and Agbonlahor agree this is England’s best XI

When does Euro 2024 start?

The tournament kicks off on Friday, June 14, with hosts Germany battling Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich in the Group A opener.

England – in Group B – will play their first game on Sunday, 16, against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm UK time.

They will face Denmark in their second game on Thursday, June 20 in Frankfurt at 5pm.

Their final group game will be on Tuesday, June 25 in Cologne against Slovenia at 8pm.

Who are the favourite to win Euro 2024?

talkSPORT BET has England as the top pick for glory, having come so close to glory at the last Euros.

France are a close second, with Kylian Mbappe the stand-out name at this summer’s tournament, while hosts Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal are next in the betting.

*odds subject to change

Unsure who to back? Take a spin on the Lucky Dip wheel and get a random team at 20/1 to win the tournament.

You could get England at a massive price! – spin here. 18+ gambleaware.org

Latest article