Gary Neville has admitted that he was surprised by one omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the 2024 European Championships this summer.
Gareth Southgate named his England squad with some surprise omissions including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling. James Trafford, Jarell Quansah, Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo are all in Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad, which will be later cut to 26.
This has to be the tournament that England win and, because of the quality of the squad at Southgate’s disposal, they would have to be considered the favourites alongside Portugal and France.
England’s team is a relatively young one and that may be some concerning lack of leaders in the squad. Former Manchester United right-back, Gary Neville has named one omission that he thinks could be a mistake.
Neville questions one omission
A midfield pairing of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips were key for England in Euro 2021 but neither player have made this summer’s squad and Neville has questioned the decision to leave the former Liverpool midfielder out, in particular.
“Why’s that happened? I didn’t expect that,” Neville said on The Overlap when news broke of Henderson’s omission from England’s latest squad.
“I didn’t think he would start at the Euros but he was a mainstay in the team at Qatar. I thought he would be in there because he’s a good player to have in the squad and can do a job.
“I’m really stunned by that. They are really short in that midfield position. It does feel surprising to me. Looking at the personnel, Gareth Southgate is almost going to be forced to play a really attacking midfield. I thought he would go for that experienced player who can control things.”
Henderson has had a rather poor season since departing Anfield, with his decision to quit Liverpool raising eyebrows.
After a disastrous spell at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, Henderson moved to Dutch giants Ajax but that spell in the Netherlands has not worked out well for him so far.
If he had stayed at Liverpool, even being a bit-part player, it is almost certain he would have made the squad.
Henderson’s omission
There were many controversial decisions around Southgate’s team but leaving out Henderson, who has had a poor season, was the right call.
Promoting Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, as well as United midfielder Mainoo, will certainly make England’s midfield a much more exciting one and these options will be vital for England in the summer.
The experience of Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire and Harry Kane may well have to carry England through as this is a relatively inexperienced squad on the international stage.
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