May 20th 2024.
On Tuesday, England's national football team, known as the Three Lions, will be announcing their provisional squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. Manager Gareth Southgate will be selecting a 30-man squad for training, but it's expected that one big name will be left out due to a crisis in the team's defense.
The squad will then be reduced to 26 players for the actual tournament, but Southgate has decided to name a larger squad initially due to the absence and injuries of several key players. Manchester United and Manchester City players will likely miss the first friendly match due to their participation in the FA Cup final, while Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham won't join the team until after the Champions League final.
With the extra space in the squad, Southgate plans to try out some defensive options, particularly at left-back where he has concerns. First-choice full-back Luke Shaw has been out of action since February and has suffered a recent setback in his recovery. Backup player Ben Chilwell has only played 10 minutes in the Premier League since March. Both players will have a chance to prove their fitness, but Southgate may end up choosing Kieran Trippier as his first-choice left-back.
However, even Trippier's fitness is a bit of a risk, as the 33-year-old has only made a few appearances since recovering from a calf injury. With doubts over Shaw and Chilwell, Southgate may consider selecting versatile players like Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa, or Joe Gomez who can cover both center-back and left-back positions.
One player who is expected to miss out on the squad is Raheem Sterling. Despite scoring in Chelsea's final match of the season, he is facing the possibility of missing his first international tournament in 10 years. Other players like Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrod Bowen are all ahead of him in the pecking order.
There are also no major concerns over Gordon, who missed Newcastle's final match of the season and their post-season trip to Melbourne. Bowen only missed West Ham's trip to Manchester City due to illness. Despite a drop in form, Marcus Rashford is likely to make the provisional squad, while players like Jack Grealish, Eberechi Eze, and James Maddison are competing for one or two spots due to Southgate's need to strengthen the defensive side of the team.
There may also be a few surprises in the squad, as players like Eric Dier, who has been performing well for Bayern Munich, could make a return. However, it's unlikely that Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips will be selected, with Trent Alexander-Arnold being the most likely midfield partner for Declan Rice.
In terms of injuries, star player Harry Kane should be fit for the tournament despite missing Bayern's final match of the season due to a back issue. He is currently working with his personal doctor to address the injury. Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that Kane had a "complete blockade" in his back and it's been getting worse, making it difficult for him to participate in matches.
As the team prepares for the Euro 2024 tournament, fans and analysts will be eagerly waiting for Southgate's squad announcement and the eventual selection of the final 26 players who will represent England on the international stage.
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