Marcus Rashford has been a key player under Gareth Southgate but his place in the squad for this summer's tournament is in doubt. Credit : Telegraph/Eddie Mulholland
Marcus Rashford hopes he has been thrown a lifeline after deciding to increase his squad for this summer's European Championships.
The Manchester United striker is unlikely to be included in Gareth Southgate's squad if He is left with 23 players given the emergence of stronger alternatives and his poor form.
However, a UEFA vote on Monday approved a move to 26 players, which had been lobbied by national coaches, including Southgate, who are concerned about player burnout and injuries
Rashford played just 15 minutes in England's recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, the last two games before Southgate named his provisional squad on May 21.
Rashford didn't feature at all against Belgium — although England were losing, failing to impress during his cameo against Brazil.
Southgate also seemed cool to Rashford's prospects after the game. “Well, I wanted to see Anthony Gordon. I think he has done well for his club. And obviously Marcus had success in the first game,” he said.
“But I wanted to see Gordon again (against Belgium). I thought (James) Maddison coming in would have an impact and (Jarrod) Bowen had a really good camp as well. Therefore, there is competition for places.
“When I named the line-up, I said there was competition for places in these vast areas. It's a bit of a shame that Cole Palmer missed so much training that we couldn't get him into the (Belgium) game at the stage it was, missing most of the week. We weren't 100 per cent sure what we were going to get, whereas with Gordon we knew and with Maddison we knew. I wouldn't leave Cole out of the equation.»
Rashford has endured a difficult season and was booed by United fans after being substituted during Sunday's FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City
p> 
Rashford has struggled for form with Manchester United this season. Photo: Getty Images/Allstar
It looks like the missing player will be Chelsea's Raheem Sterling, even with a bigger squad. He and Rashford have appeared in nine major tournaments in total.
A definite beneficiary of the squad increase is likely to be Rashford's teammate Luke Shaw, who Southgate wants to invite to the tournament but is suffering from a long-term fitness problem hamstring.
Southgate has flagged the possibility of expanding the squad — UEFA's original plan was to return to 23 players — after England's recent international friendlies were affected by player withdrawals.
This was on the eve of the meeting of all national coaches in Dusseldorf two weeks ago. The move was approved at a regular meeting of UEFA's national competition committee on Monday.
Larger squads were used at the last Euro due to Covid, as well as at the World Cup in Qatar, but this did not help. Southgate and other coaches, including Scotsman Steve Clarke, were expected to be able to select only 23 men for the tournament in Germany.
The decision has not yet been fully agreed — it must be approved by UEFA's executive committee — but given the wave of public opinion, it will be rejected. The Executive Committee is likely to give its approval later this week.
This also means that countries will likely be able to select 26 players for all future tournaments, given the increasing demands on them and the busy match schedule.< /p>
Southgate was among the coaches lobbying for all players to be allowed to be part of the squad for the tournament — as happened at the last World Cup but was not allowed at previous Euros. This will probably happen too.
Jason Burt squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson
Defenders: Walker, Alexander -Arnold, Trippier, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Konsa, Gomez
Midfielders:Rice, Mainu, Bellingham, Gallagher, Maddison, Foden, Saka, Grealish, Bowen, Palmer
Forwards: Kane, Tony
Reserves: Watkins, Gordon, Guehi
Свежие комментарии