Joe Gomez’s Form and Fitness Overlooked for England Squad Selection
Gareth Southgate has announced the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Surprisingly, Joe Gomez, despite his impressive form and fitness this season, has not been included in the squad. The only Liverpool player called up is Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Gomez’s Exclusion Despite Strong Performance
With England already qualified for the tournament and injuries affecting the defensive options, Southgate could have considered Gomez for a call-up. However, it seems that the 26-year-old is currently out of contention for the Three Lions.
Gomez’s last involvement with England was three years ago when he was part of the squad for matches against Wales, Belgium, and Denmark in October 2020. Although he started in the friendly win over Wales, he was left out of the UEFA Nations League clash with Belgium and was an unused substitute against Denmark.
Unfortunately, Gomez suffered a serious knee injury during training in November, which kept him out of action for almost eight months. In a recent interview on the On The Judy podcast, Gomez revealed that this layoff made him question whether his top-level career was over.
Gomez’s Versatility and Adaptability
This season, Gomez has featured in almost every game for Liverpool, missing only two matches. He has played in various positions, including centre-back, right-back, and left-back. His ability to adapt to the hybrid role created for Alexander-Arnold at right-back has been particularly impressive.
However, Southgate already has a competitive group of players in that position, which may explain Gomez’s exclusion from the squad.
England Squad vs. Malta and North Macedonia
The England squad for the upcoming qualifiers includes the following players:
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Johnstone
Defenders: Maguire, Dunk, Tomori, Guehi, Colwill, Trippier, Walker
Midfielders: Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Rice, Maddison, Henderson, Phillips, Gallagher
Forwards: Kane, Saka, Rashford, Grealish, Wilson, Watkins, Bowen, Foden