England manager Gareth Southgate has made the decision to name his Euro 2024 squad early to ensure that his players can focus on their upcoming game against Iceland. Southgate had until Friday to confirm his 26-man group but chose to announce the squad a day earlier. This decision was made to avoid any unnecessary stress for the players who were waiting to find out if they had made the cut. Southgate explained his reasoning, stating, “I didn’t want to keep the players waiting until Friday – that would have been a mess, really. It wouldn’t have been fair on the players that we’ve released and wouldn’t have been fair on the players that were waiting to have confirmation they were in.”
While Southgate had initially selected 33 players in his shortlist, some notable names such as goalkeeper James Trafford, defenders Jarrad Branthwaite, Harry Maguire, and Jarell Quansah, midfielder Curtis Jones, and forwards Jack Grealish and James Maddison did not make the final squad. Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah, however, has remained with the squad and could potentially feature against Iceland.
England’s upcoming match against Iceland comes after their 3-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Iceland, on the other hand, failed to qualify for Euro 2024 after losing 2-1 to Ukraine in a play-off back in March. Southgate acknowledged that there would be some anxiety and difficult days following the squad announcement but believes that now that the players’ heads are clear, they can fully focus on the game against Iceland and the upcoming tournament.
It is worth noting that this current England squad is without several key players who featured in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Players such as Maguire, Kalvin Phillips, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Grealish are absent from the Euro 2024 squad. When asked about the change in his selection approach, Southgate emphasized the importance of loyalty but also acknowledged the need to pick players who give the team the best chance of winning. He stated, “It’s an important part of building a team, but also you have got to pick the players you think will give you the best chance of winning. We have a lot of players with a lot of caps, a lot of tournament experience and some due to physical issues aren’t able to deliver for us.”
The final England squad for Euro 2024 consists of three goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, and Aaron Ramsdale. The defensive lineup includes players such as Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, and Kyle Walker. In midfield, England will rely on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, and Adam Wharton. The forward options include Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Ollie Watkins.
Southgate’s decision to announce the squad early has allowed the players to have a clear mindset going into the game against Iceland. By avoiding any last-minute uncertainties, Southgate hopes that the team can fully focus on their performance and begin their Euro 2024 campaign on a positive note. The absence of some key players from the Euro 2020 final indicates Southgate’s willingness to prioritize current form and physical readiness when selecting his squad. With a mix of experienced players and promising young talents, England will look to make a strong impression in this year’s tournament.