Euro 2024 is shaping up to be a classic tournament given the level of talent that will feature in Germany in June. England are among the teams with the most formidable roster coming into this year’s competition and have the opportunity to establish themselves as Europe’s best team this summer. The Three Lions were so close to winning their first European title in 2021 but lost on penalties to Italy in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd.
Thanks to a highly talented roster, the hype around Gareth Southgate’s team is through the roof this year, and England tickets for the Euros will be in high demand. The 1966 World Cup winners will seek to redeem themselves this year after a series of disappointing campaigns and will come into this tournament with arguably the most complete squad in their history.
Southgate, who has been England’s manager since 2016, announced his provisional squad ahead of the Euros, with the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden on his roster. However, given the enormous English talents available for selection, some notable names failed to cut this year, including members of the team that made it to the final three years ago.
From Marcus Rashford to Jordan Henderson, we take a look at some of the biggest players who will not represent England at the Euros this year.
Marcus Rashford
There’s justification for the exclusion of Marcus Rashford from England’s Euro 2024 squad, with the Manchester United forward enduring a disappointing season at club level. The 26-year-old failed to replicate his 30-goal season in 2022/23, leaving Southgate with no choice but to leave him out.
This will be the first time Rashford fails to travel with the team for a major tournament since making his senior career debut for England in 2016. With 17 goals for England in 60 caps, he has been an important player for Southgate over the years, helping the team to 36 wins in that span. Rashford was a key piece for England in 2018 when they made it to the World Cup semi-final and also contributed to the Three Lions’ run to the EURO 2020 final.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho is perhaps the biggest snub on this list as his wait for a major tournament appearance continues. From struggling to see minutes under Erik Ten Hag to a loan move to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, the 24-year-old has had an interesting season.
The Manchester United outcast, who struggled in his first year in the Premier League, has gained a resurgence with the Bundesliga side, leading them to their first UEFA Champions League final since 2013. Although he has yet to reach the heights of his previous years at Dortmund, Sancho has continued to impress. He played perhaps his best football this season against Paris Saint Germain in the UCL semi-final, showing signs of his former form, and would have been a great addition for England at the European Championship tournament.
Unfortunately, it’s a little too late to impress Southgate, who has opted for the likes of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer instead.
Reece James
The absence of Reece James is a big blow for England going into the Euros. This is not to say that he doesn’t have a worthy replacement in Kyle Walker, but James, when fit, is undoubtedly one of the best right-backs in Europe and would have contributed immensely to the team’s success in June.
The 24-year-old has endured a series of injuries in recent years. A right hamstring injury in 2022 kept him out of Southgate’s World Cup squad. He suffered another hamstring injury early in the season in August, spending 59 days on the sidelines, and missing nine games for Chelsea. The Blues captain again suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery in December and missed 29 club games in that period. In all, he made only ten appearances for Chelsea this season and has yet to see full minutes since his return.
James has featured for England 16 times, including at the 2020 Euros, with three assists and nine wins for his country.
Raheem Sterling
The list of Chelsea absentees continues with Raheem Sterling, a familiar face in the England dressing room, missing out this year. Like Rashford, the 29-year-old has been a vital asset for Southgate over the years, scoring 20 goals and providing 27 assists in 82 appearances.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool forward has played in every major tournament for England since his first call-up in 2012. But his form this season has been way below his usual standards. Sterling found the back of the net only eight times in 31 Premier League games. He hasn’t represented England since the 2022 World Cup and will not be in the mix at the Euros.
Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell had an exciting start to the Premier League this season, but a lack of playing time for Chelsea means the left-back won’t make it to Germany. The Blues vice-captain has only featured in 13 games for his club this season, with Mauricio Pochettino preferring Spanish defender Marc Cucurella in his stead. He managed to notch only one assist in that span, not enough to impress Southgate.
Chilwell has represented England 21 times for the senior team since his debut in 2018, including two games at the Euro qualifiers. The 27-year-old has registered one goal and five assists for the Three Lions but will have to wait another three years to feature in a major tournament.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson, a mainstay for England over the years, will not be on the plane to Germany, at least not as one of Southgate’s players. With 81 caps for his country, the 33-year-old midfielder has featured in England’s midfield in each of their last five major tournaments, but a disastrous spell at club level keeps him out of the loop this time around.
The former Liverpool captain made a shocking decision to take his talent to Saudi Arabia in the summer. But his time in the Middle East was short-lived as he agreed to terminate his contract with Al-Ettifaq. The 2019 Champions League winner returned to Europe to play for Ajax but was unable to redeem the worst season of his career. With injuries holding him back and a disappointing spell so far in the Netherlands, Southgate has been left with no choice but to leave him out of his squad.
