May 26 – England boss Gareth Southgate has named an extended 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2020, with the Three Lions boss sweating over injury concerns and the all-English Champions League final on Saturday in a selection process he has called “more complicated than any other country”.
The England manager must name a 26-man squad by June 1, but all of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea will compete in European club finals this week, complicating Southgate’s task and compelling him to take a cautious approach in naming a large squad.
“There are 12 players still to play so we’re always going to need additional players and added to that we have some injuries at different stages, that we have very little info about,” said Southgate at a news conference. “Our preference was to name the 26, but we have not got an ideal hand of cards – a lot of unknowns. Info and evidence are very important and we will have a lot more in the next seven days.”
Harry Maguire is one of the most high-profile players struggling with injury after he damaged his knee ligaments in Manchester United’s 3-1 victory against Aston Villa earlier this month. There were also questionmarks over Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, who has not played since February, but he made the squad. So did full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, the subject of heated media debate in England. Brighton centre-back Ben White and Everton’s Ben Godfrey, both of whom are uncapped, and Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka were the surprise inclusions in the squad.
“There is a skill to picking 23 and it means you’ve got to make good decisions and important decisions,’ said the England boss. “Some of that can be lost as you get an extended group, so let’s see how that develops but I’m not 100% for that, I have to say.”
England will play two friendlies before Euro 2020 gets under way, warming up with a clash against Austria on June 2 before facing Romania four days later. They kick off their campaign against Croatia on June 13 at Wembley.
England’s provisional 33-man squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheff Utd)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Ben White (Brighton)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
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