June 25th 2024.
In preparation for the highly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament, England's national football team, led by coach Gareth Southgate, has announced their squad of 26 players. However, one notable absence from the roster is Manchester United's star player Marcus Rashford.
The 26-year-old forward has been a crucial member of the England squad in recent years, representing his country in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, as well as the 2021 European Championship. So why was he not selected for the upcoming Euros?
When questioned about the decision to leave Rashford out of the squad, Southgate explained, "These are always difficult choices to make. We are talking about top-quality players who have been an integral part of our team for many years." He went on to say, "But in this particular case, I feel that other players in Rashford's position have had stronger seasons, and therefore deserve a spot on the team."
Indeed, Rashford's performance for Manchester United this past season has been subpar, with only eight goals scored in 42 appearances. He also faced disciplinary action in January after missing a training session due to attending a nightclub the previous evening.
But Southgate's decision was not solely based on Rashford's individual form. He also expressed concern about having too many attacking players on the team, stating, "You can have too many options in certain areas of the pitch. It's important to give each player the attention and support they need to perform at their best, and having an excess of forwards can complicate this."
As for Rashford's thoughts on the matter, he has yet to publicly address his exclusion from the squad. However, he has been a consistent contributor for England, scoring 17 goals in 60 appearances since his debut in 2016.
Despite the disappointing news for Rashford, England's star-studded squad remains determined to bring home their first-ever European Championship title. The team has faced criticism for their performance in the early stages of the tournament, but they are determined to prove their doubters wrong and make their country proud.
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