Gareth Southgate has named a 33-man provisional England squad for the upcoming European Championships as the Three Lions look to end 58 years of hurt at Euro 2024.
The England men’s team will bid to end their long wait for a major trophy in Germany this summer.
The Three Lions have reached the latter stages of three successive tournaments, suffering semi-final and quarter-final defeats at the last two World Cups either side of a run to the Euro 2020 final, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign begins on June 16 when they face Serbia, before they meet fellow Group C contenders Denmark and Slovenia before hopefully reaching the knockout stages.
UEFA confirmed last month that nations will have 26-man squads for this summer’s Euros, meaning England’s squad will be cut before the final deadline on June 7.
Southgate has named a large, 33-man training squad because England are sweating over the fitness of several players ahead of Euro 2024.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah are surprise inclusions in the squad but there is no room for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford or ex-England captain Jordan Henderson.
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)
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones and James Trafford are the other uncapped players included in Southgate’s initial selection.
Chelsea stars Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Reece James have all been overlooked, as have Dominic Solanke, Jadon Sancho and Ben White.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford will start the Euros as England’s No. 1 and two of Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale and James Trafford will likely join him in Germany.
Euro 2024 defensive injury crisis
Southgate has been dealt a defensive injury crisis ahead of Euro 2024 and the 53-year-old admits Luke Shaw remains a huge doubt for the tournament despite being named in the provisional squad.
In midfield, Wharton and Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will battle for a place alongside Declan Rice after Henderson’s snub and Kalvin Phillips poor form.
Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have both been selected as back-up to Bayern Munich striker and England record goalscorer Harry Kane, with Rashford and Sterling among the wingers to miss out in favour of Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon.
‘This has been as complicated a group as I can remember picking,’ said Southgate, who has been in charge of England since 2016.
‘I don’t know where players will be cut. In another couple of weeks we will be a lot clearer on a number of issues.
‘We’ve never had so many unknown situations. We’ve had tournaments where we’ve taken a players where we know they will be back for a certain moment. We’re used to dealing with it.
‘I always like to give players as much clarity as possible. But on this occasion we’re not able to do that.
‘With this group, some of them might not be for this summer, but for the future as well. We’ve evolved as a team in every tournament. There are now a lot of changes from the last Euros, and from Qatar as well.’
England have two pre-tournament friendlies against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 3 and Iceland on June 7 but Southgate could still be without some of his squad by then as Manchester City face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday and the Champions League final, featuring Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, is played on June 1.
Despite not winning a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, England are pre-tournament favourites ahead of the Euros, with France, Germany, Portugal and Spain among the other top contenders.
When are England’s Euro 2024 fixtures?
Serbia v England (June 16, 8pm, Veltins-Arena)
Denmark v England (June 20, 5pm, Deutsche Bank Park)
England v Slovenia (June 25, 8m, RheinEnergieStadion)