June 12th 2024.
Two star players, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford, have been left out of England's Euro 2024 squad, causing concern for former national team and Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes. He worries that the team may lack the necessary tournament experience in their attack for the upcoming competition, and believes that manager Gareth Southgate may have made a big mistake by not including Grealish and Rashford in the final 26-man squad.
Initially named in the provisional 33-man squad, Grealish missed out on a spot in the final team due to his inconsistent form and fitness in the previous season with Manchester City. Rashford, on the other hand, was not even included in Southgate's plans after a lacklustre campaign with Manchester United, where he only managed to score eight goals in all competitions. Instead, the manager has chosen relatively inexperienced players such as Cole Palmer, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, and Anthony Gordon, who have a combined total of just 19 appearances with the Three Lions.
Scholes is particularly worried about the lack of tournament experience in England's attacking areas, with even the backup strikers, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, lacking game-time on the international stage. He expressed his thoughts on Instagram, saying, "Trying to make my mind up about this England squad... honestly think not having the major tournament know-how of Rashford and Grealish as back up is a big mistake!!"
Southgate has acknowledged that it was a tough decision to leave out Grealish and Tottenham's James Maddison, who were both initially selected but later cut from the squad. He explained, "We're blessed with options in attacking areas, all offering something slightly different... Madders and Jack give us something different as well, so they're tough calls." However, the manager believes in his final selection of players and stands by his decisions.
Scholes, however, believes that Grealish and Rashford should have been included in the squad, and their absence may prove to be a disadvantage for the team. While Rashford's omission may seem more straightforward, with Southgate opting for players who have had better seasons, Scholes believes that their experience and talent could have been valuable for the team.
As the Three Lions prepare for their first match against Serbia, there are still questions surrounding Southgate's team selection. Bukayo Saka is expected to be available despite a minor injury, while John Stones is a doubt after missing training due to illness. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw, who has been working his way back to full fitness after a muscle problem, will not be considered for a starting spot. It remains to be seen how Southgate's squad will fare in the upcoming competition.
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