Gareth Southgate’s decision to keep Jarell Quansah as a standby player for England’s Euro 2024 squad has been criticized by Wayne Rooney. While Quansah was cut from the provisional squad, he was still included in the group for their final warm-up friendly against Iceland. Rooney argues that Southgate should have sent all standby players home, as it made it clear that Quansah had no chance of actually playing in the tournament.
Rooney witnessed Quansah’s disappointment firsthand while doing TV duties on the touchline. After the game, Rooney observed that while other players walked onto the pitch and interacted with their teammates, Quansah immediately went inside. This separation highlighted the fact that he had no real role within the team. Rooney believes that Southgate should have been upfront with the standby players, telling them to go home and enjoy their holidays unless there was an injury.
Gary Neville joined Rooney in criticizing Southgate’s decision, drawing a parallel to Jermain Defoe’s situation before the 2006 World Cup. Defoe had been asked to stay on as a standby player in case Rooney was unable to recover from an injury. However, once Rooney returned, Defoe was left alone and had to say goodbye to the team. Neville emphasized how tough this situation can be for a player who is left behind while others continue with the squad.
Despite the disappointment of not making the final squad, Quansah publicly expressed his appreciation for his time with England. He took to Instagram to describe it as an “unbelievable experience” and wished his teammates the best of luck in the tournament.
The discussion between Rooney and Neville highlights the challenges faced by standby players in international tournaments. While their inclusion may provide them with valuable experience, it also exposes them to the disappointment of not being able to fully participate. Southgate’s decision to keep Quansah with the squad until the final friendly match may have unintentionally emphasized his lack of chances, leading to criticism from Rooney and others.