Gareth Southgate announced his 25-man England squad on Thursday afternoon (March 16) ahead of the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
During the international break, the England national football team will play their first two out of ten qualifying games. On Thursday, March 23, Southgate’s team will visit the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples to compete against Italy, followed by hosting Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday, March 26.
The announcement of Gareth Southgate’s England squad has generated controversy on social media, with users expressing diverse opinions as many players were not included in the squad.
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The likes of Arsenal’s Ben White, Chelsea star, Raheem Sterling, Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold among others have been left out of the squad.
Speaking to the media about his 25-man selections, Gareth Southgate said: “I have got to pick the team and the squad which gives us the best chance of winning in the matches. Experience is part of that.. you have to get the balance right.”
And he added on his doubts of staying on as England manager: “The doubts I had were before the World Cup really. I have spoken a couple of months ago,I never wanted to be a devisive figure in my doing the job affecting the team. I did worry before the World Cup if I had to say I was going at the end would give the players a chance to play. We chose not to do that.”
England Squad For Euro 2024 Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Here we go… your #ThreeLions for March camp! 🦁
— England (@England) March 16, 2023
When asked about Sterling’s exclusion, Southgate explained: “Raheem is not fit, so that’s that. Yes, absolutely (I would have selected him if he was fit).”
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