The 7 players cut from England’s Euro 2024 campaign – right or wrong decision?

So, Gareth Southgate has done it. The England manager has made the necessary cuts and whittled his original 33-player preliminary Euro 2024 squad down to the final 26.

One goalkeeper, three defenders, one midfielder and two forwards have been let go and will not be on the plane to Germany for the tournament that begins on 14 June.

Southgate saw his team win 3-0 over Bosnia & Herzegovina in a warm-up friendly on Monday and made his decisions well ahead of UEFA’s deadline. The final farewell against Iceland at Wembley on Friday will now be played with the 26-strong group will be going to the Euros.

90min assesses whether those missed out deserved their fate…

Playing in League One as recently as last season and with just one campaign of Premier League football under his belt, James Trafford’s inclusion in the preliminary group came as a surprise and was perhaps indicative of the lack of depth in the goalkeeping position.

The 21-year-old will be well served by the experience of being part of the England setup, but was always the likely contender to be cut from the original four goalkeepers selected.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

It’s not really up for debate that Harry Maguire would have been going to Euro 2024 but for injury, having been a key starter for Southgate at three successive tournaments since 2018 and playing some of the best football of his career in an England shirt.

But a calf problem and the battle to be fit in time to play a meaningful part in Germany, rather than being a wasted jersey on the periphery, was too much. Maguire hasn’t played at all since 27 April, missing the last month of the club season with Manchester United, so when he still wasn’t able to train properly by the time the final squad decision needed to be made, it was too late.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

Even though he didn’t make it this time, what’s almost certain is Jarrad Branthwaite being a cornerstone of England squads in the future. This occasion was perhaps just too soon for the Everton centre-back, having only made his debut against Bosnia last week.

That being said, the obvious quality that he possesses, even at just 21, made his exclusion from the final squad slightly surprising. One can only assume that Southgate values the greater versatility offered by Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa more at this moment in time, but Branthwaite is most naturally two-footed of the trio and most suitable to flipping into a back three if needed.

Right decision? No. ❌

That Jarell Quansah’s entire senior career prior to this season amounted to 16 appearances on loan at Bristol Rovers in League One is testament to the year he’s had. The Liverpool youngster grabbed the opportunity presented by Jurgen Klopp with both hands and has a bright future ahead.

But, on experience alone, he was always likely to be one of those cut from this squad.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

Given that he’s been a steady Liverpool player for more than four years during the club’s most concentrated period of success since the 1980s, it’s a little surprising that Curtis Jones had never been chosen for a senior England squad before now.

But the 23-year-old was one of the first couple of players cut, without getting on the pitch against Bosnia for his debut. Bearing in mind the other midfielders he was directly competing with, Jones probably offered less than those who remain.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

James Maddison was pretty blunt in his public statement after Southgate cut him from the squad. Stating his respect for the manager, the Tottenham star deserves applause in recognising that his form at club level probably hadn’t been good enough, although he still felt in himself that his performances in training since reporting for duty would have got him through.

England have got more unpredictable explosiveness in Jarrod Bowen and Eberchi Eze, who survive.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

Jack Grealish was the ultimate form vs reputation choice for Southgate. Here was a £100m player who had been to the last two tournaments with England, yet one who was far from his best at club level during the season. The manager opted for lower profile individuals doing well.

It is the kind of ruthlessness that England bosses have perhaps been afraid to show in the past and the confidence given to the likes of Bowen, Eze, Ollie Watkins, Anthony Gordon and others from such a clear display of trust in them over a more established player could be a psychological masterstroke.

Right decision? Yes. ✅

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Caps & goals up to date as of 3 June 2024 after Bosnia & Herzegovina friendly.

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