Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson have been left out of England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024, with the uncapped Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah and Adam Wharton all included.
England boss Gareth Southgate has named an extended training squad of 33 players ahead of the tournament starting on June 14. The Three Lions boss has to cut that squad to a maximum of 26 players by 11pm on June 7, the same day as England’s final friendly match before the tournament – against Iceland.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze have been included, as have defenders Lewis Dunk and Ezri Konsa.
Forwards Anthony Gordon and Ivan Toney are also in the squad along with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, after an injury-hit season with the Premier League champions.
Luke Shaw has also been named in the squad despite his injury concerns. The other left-back options in the England squad are Kieran Trippier and Joe Gomez.
James Trafford has been named ahead of Nick Pope and Jack Butland as the fourth goalkeeper alongside Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson.
Among those not named in the provisional squad are Chelsea quartet Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling and Reece James.
The main omission is Rashford, who has been a key England player under Southgate, having been named in the two previous World Cup squads in 2018 and 2022, as well as the last Euros squad in 2021.
However, the 26-year-old has scored just eight goals for Erik ten Hag’s United this season, after finding the net 30 times in all competitions in the previous season.
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Prior to Manchester United’s Premier League game against Newcastle, Marcus Rashford was seen arguing with a fan.
Henderson was also named in the previous three international tournaments. However, the 33-year-old has been omitted after a turbulent club season which saw him make a controversial move to Saudi Arabia club Al Ettifaq from Liverpool, before moving to Ajax in January.
The former Liverpool captain made 12 appearances for the Dutch club in the second half of the campaign, but it was not enough to convince Southgate to call him up.
It is better news for Palace duo Eze and Wharton, who have impressed in the second half of the season at Selhurst Park under new manager Oliver Glasner.
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Having started the season in the Championship with Blackburn and then impressing at Crystal Palace – Adam Wharton has now been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for the Euros.
Eze, whose last England appearance came in September 2023, has scored five goals in his last six Premier League games. Wharton, meanwhile, has impressed in his 16 Premier League appearances since joining from Blackburn in the January transfer window.
Liverpool duo Jones and Quansah have been called up for the first time after featuring regularly for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Midfielder Jones has played 36 times in all competitions for the Reds, while Quansah has been called up after scoring twice in his last two Liverpool games from centre-back.
Everton defender Branthwaite is also in after being called up to the England squad in March without making an appearance.
Is Eze over Rashford the right call? Merson’s view…
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Paul Merson shares his thoughts on Gareth Southgate excluding Marcus Rashford from his provisional Euro 2024 England squad.
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:
“It’s huge news. Sixty caps, been in tournaments, scores goals and you can rely on him.
“If it was any other time you’d probably say it was not a shock, but Gareth picks people out of form – he picks people even if they aren’t in their team.
“I am really shocked. He hasn’t been good, but tournament football is so different to [club football]. It’s like no other type of football.
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Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish pays tribute to Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi who have all been called up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad and says it is reward for a remarkable end to the season.
“He’s just left out 140 caps in the blink of an eye with Henderson and Rashford. When Rashford gets hot, he gets hot and you need that in tournament football.
“I like Eze, I just don’t think he is going to play in front of Foden. If you’re watching the game and there are 65 minutes gone and England are behind – who do you go for to bring off the bench?
“Rashford, who has done it before and has sixty caps, or someone who has never played in a tournament before? You’re going with Rashford. And that’s what shocks me. I think you could take both of them.”
What next for Rashford?
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett at St George’s Park:
“We’ve been talking about this for a few days now – has Rashford’s form for Man Utd just not been at a high enough standard to warrant a place in this England side?
“There was a possibility, and I thought it might be the case, that Southgate would select Rashford for the provisional group, see where his mind was at, see what sort of form he was in, maybe even play him in the two friendlies to assess that and make a final decision.
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With expected news of Jordan Henderson being left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 provisional squad, is this the end of the midfielder’s England career?
“But Southgate has bitten the bullet early, taken that decision early and not included Rashford in this provisional squad, so he will not be going to the Euros.
“It’s a significant piece of news. I don’t think it’s like Henderson where, at the age of 33, you’ve got to question whether his non-involvement means the end of his international career.
“I don’t think that’s the case for Rashford, who is still in his mid-to-late 20s. He has got an England future, but he won’t be at this tournament – the first one he will have missed since before the 2018 World Cup.
“He’s always been an integral part of Southgate’s plans. He’s always performed better for England than he has for his club in many people’s eyes. But after 61 caps, he will not be adding to that at this summer’s Euros.”
England’s Euro 2024 schedule
Southgate’s side face a replay of their Euro 2020 semi-final against the Danes in Group C, having won 2-1 after extra-time in July 2021 before eventually losing to Italy in the final.
England’s first game on Sunday June 16 sees them travel to Gelsenkirchen to take on Serbia, who finished second in qualifying Group G behind Hungary, and who they have not faced since their split with Montenegro in 2006.
They then take on Denmark four days later in Frankfurt before rounding off their group on Tuesday June 25 in Cologne against Slovenia, who they previously beat in a must-win final group game at World Cup 2010 to reach the knockout stages.
Here are England’s Euro 2024 fixtures, as well as their potential route through the knockout stages…
What’s next for England? The key dates
All times BST
Monday June 3 – International friendly, England vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park, kick-off 7.45pm
Friday June 7 – International friendly, England vs Iceland at Wembley, kick-off 7.45pm
Friday June 7 – Final 26-player squad submitted to UEFA
Saturday June 8 – Final 26-player squad announced
Monday June 10 – England squad fly to Germany
England’s potential Euro 2024 route
Group stage
The top two in each group plus the four best third-placed teams go through
Sunday June 16 – Group C: Serbia vs England (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen – kick-off 8pm UK time)
Thursday June 20 – Group C: Denmark vs England (Waldstadion, Frankfurt – kick-off 5pm UK time)
Tuesday June 25 – Group C: England vs Slovenia (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne – kick-off 8pm UK time)
Round of 16
If England finish first in Group C…
Sunday June 30 : Group C winners vs third-placed side in Group D/E/F (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
If England finish second in Group C…
Saturday June 29 – Group A winners vs Group C runners-up (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
If England finish as one of four best third-place teams…
One of:
Monday July 1 – Group F winner vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C (Waldstadion, Frankfurt)
Tuesday July 2 – Group E winners vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C/D (Allianz Arena, Munich)
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Sky Sports News reporter Geraint Hughes analyses the Euro 2024 draw and the pressure Gareth Southgate is under ahead of the tournament
Quarter-finals
If England finish first in Group C and win round of 16 game…
Saturday July 6 (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
If England finish second in Group C and win round of 16 game…
Friday July 5 (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
If England finish as one of four best third-place teams and win round of 16 game…
One of:
Friday July 5 (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
Saturday July 6 (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Semi-finals
If England finish first in Group C, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
Wednesday July 10 – kick-off 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
If England finish second in Group C, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
Tuesday July 9 – kick-off 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
If England finish as one of four best third-place teams, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
One of:
Tuesday July 9 – kick-off 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Wednesday July 10 – kick-off 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
And finally, the final…
Sunday July 14 – kick-off 8pm (Olympiastadion, Berlin)