Gareth Southgate’s England Euro 2024 squad selection will be a huge discussion point as this summer’s tournament come into focus.
An unbeaten 2023 is in the history books, and with 2024 kicking off with a loss to Brazil and draw with Belgium, we’ve analysed how Southgate likely sees his options right now.
Goalkeepers
On the plane: Jordan Pickford (Everton).
In the departure lounge: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Hoping for a late ticket: Nick Pope (Newcastle) and Jack Butland (Rangers)
Pickford established himself as England’s number one ahead of the 2018 World Cup and is all but certain to go into his fourth major tournament as the main man between the sticks.
Ramsdale had looked his closest contender but David Raya’s arrival at Arsenal has impacted his playing time and could well damage his international ambitions.
Sam Johnstone had supplanted Pope as third choice for the time being, but with both keepers set to miss the final weeks of the season through injury, ex-Man United number one Dean Henderson could find himself given the nod as England’s third choice GK.
Defenders
On the plane: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), John Stones (Manchester City), Enzri Konsa (Aston Villa) and Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
In the departure lounge: Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) and Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Hoping for a late ticket: Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Tino Livramento (Newcastle) and Reece James (Chelsea).
TStones, Walker and Maguire have been to every previous major tournament under Southgate and will do so again if fit and playing.
James and Trippier both undoubtedly have the quality to be on the plane but needs to prove their fitness – not ideal given his issues staying available and the competition at right-back.
Chelsea team-mate Chilwell is in a similar position but may benefit from a dearth of options at left-back, especially as Luke Shaw is out with an injury at the time of writing.
Konsa can fill in there at right-back did during the most recent international break, which will boost the Aston Villa defender’s hopes. Colwill might struggle to get into the team, having missed November’s camp through injury, meaning Tomori and versatile teenager Lewis starting there instead. The latter impressed on his debut against North Macedonia.
Guehi has established himself as back-up centre-back and Dunk pushed his case before having to withdraw from November’s squad. With Branthwaite and Gomez debuting and returning respectively in the March 2024 squad they’ve also put themselves in with a shout ahead of this summer’s tournament, whilst Livramento was name-checked by Southgate late last year as a potential debutant soon.
Midfielders
On the plane: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Cole Palmer (Chelsea) and Declan Rice (Arsenal).
In the departure lounge: Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) and Koibbe Mainoo (Manchester United).
Hoping for a late ticket: Kalvin Phillips (West Ham), Mason Mount (Manchester United) and James Ward-Prowse (West Ham).
Bellingham would be in any squad in the world, as would Rice.
There are questions over Henderson given his club situations, but Southgate has so far seen enough to stick with the players he trusts implicitly.
The Football Association now lists Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder, with his versatility and qualities surely enough to see him involved in a midfield that Gallagher is now a regular part of.
Palmer got the nod this time and the adaptable attacking midfielder featured in both November fixtures after a fine start at new club Chelsea, with another inclusion in the squad for the March 2024 games.
By contrast, Mount’s difficult end to last season and injury-impacted beginning to life at Old Trafford has seen him miss out on recent squads, but Southgate is a long-term admirer of the Euro 2020 final starter, so a good end to the season could see him added.
Ward-Prowse has not been called up despite his impressive form at West Ham, while Mainoo earned a debut after breaking onto the scene at Old Trafford and blowing fans away with his performances in the middle of the park.
Forwards
On the plane: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
In the departure lounge: Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), James Maddison (Tottenham) and Callum Wilson (Newcastle).
Hoping for a late ticket: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) and Ivan Toney (Brentford).
England are blessed with an abundance of attacking options.
Skipper Kane is a certainty, as is fleet-footed Saka. Foden and Rashford are established performers under Southgate, while Maddison and Grealish are now a regular squad members, at least when fit.
There are decisions to make beyond them. Sterling has won 82 caps for his country but has not featured since December 2022’s World Cup quarter-final loss to France.
Bowen is another fighting for a spot after an impressive season at West Ham, and the same can be said for Ollie Watkins who is doing wonders at Aston Villa this campaign.
As for Kane’s back-up, Toney is still looking for his first England goal, but the form since his return from his ban will give Southgate that he can do a job as a nine when needed.
Nketiah was omitted having made his debut last year, while injury hampered Wilson’s chances to prove he should go to another tournament in that role.
England are the sole favourites, with odds of 10/3, to win Euro 2024 this summer.
