Michael Owen has picked his England team for Euro 2024
Michael Owen has left Arsenal star Bukayo Saka out of the England team he would pick for Euro 2024.
The Three Lions are gearing up for this summer’s Euros in Germany after Gareth Southgate announced a 33-man provisional squad last week.
Five uncapped players – Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Adam Wharton and James Trafford – made the longlist but there was no room for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson or Raheem Sterling.
Southgate will need to cut at least seven players from the training squad ahead of the June 7 deadline for nations to name their final 26-player Euro squads.
After England’s squad for the tournament became clearer, ex-Three Lions striker Owen revealed the team he would pick, featuring Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer.
The dependable Jordan Pickford is in goal following an impressive season at Everton, while Premier League-winning captain Kyle Walker slots in at right-back next to Manchester City team-mate John Stones.
Owen hopes Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are fit for the Euros, with both spending time in the treatment room recently and set to miss this weekend’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
Declan Rice is selected as the sole defensive midfielder in Owen’s team, with Premier League player of the year Phil Foden and Champions League finalist Jude Bellingham given the chance to roam forward in front of Arsenal’s £105m signing.
Controversially, Owen overlooked key Gunners star Saka and instead opted to play Chelsea’s Palmer on the right wing, with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon selected on the other flank.
Palmer has enjoyed a sensational debut season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 22 goals and making 11 assists in 33 Premier League games. Saka also impressed for title-challengers Arsenal with 25 goal involvements.
England record goalscorer Harry Kane leads the line in Owen’s team but the former striker insists Southgate could ‘switch up’ the forward line with several players providing a threat in front of goal.
‘Obviously you can switch up the forward options and you will switch it up throughout the tournament,’ he told TNT Sports as he picked his England team for the Euros.
‘You can bring Bukayo Saka in on the right and put Cole Palmer on the left. I just have to find a place for Palmer and have to find a place for Foden.
‘That would be my wish-list. That team can change but I think it will only change by two or three players. They’re taking a 26-man squad but I can only envisage a few changes from that team.
‘People will argue that Anthony Gordon shouldn’t start but I love the thought of his pace out there. There’s lots of different options and alternatives but that’s probably what I would go with.’
England, who have not won a major trophy in the men’s game since 1966, kick-start their Euros campaign on June 16 against Serbia.