A summer of beer gardening and alcohol throwing beckons on English shores with expectations sky-high for the national team heading into Euro 2024.
Beaten finalists at Euro 2020 and having seen their previous two World Cup campaigns end in knockout-stage heartbreak, many believe this might finally be the Three Lions’ time in the sun.
Gareth Southgate has an abundance of riches to choose from and discourse heading into the tournament will be dominated by squad selection.
England are stacked across the board in terms of talent and there will be stars forced to miss out. Here’s everything you need to know about Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad announcement.
England’s Euro 2024 squad must be finalised by Sunday 8 June.
However, before that, Southgate is set to name a so-called ‘training squad’ following the conclusion of the Premier League season. This squad will be involved in England’s warm-up matches for the tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 June and Iceland three days later.
The England boss will not have the luxury of picking a 26-man squad as he did for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Southgate will only be allowed to take 23 players to Germany this summer. This reduction will require “a different sort of thought process,” according to the man himself.
England’s squad for March 2024 friendlies
The March international break is a huge opportunity for Euro 2024 hopefuls to impress Southgate and his staff with England featuring in two high-profile friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
While squad regulars like Harry Kane, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson made the cut, previously uncapped youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo, Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon were also included.
Player
Club
Position
Jordan Pickford
Everton
Goalkeeper
Sam Johnstone
Crystal Palace
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal
Goalkeeper
Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton
Defender
Ben Chilwell
Chelsea
Defender
Lewis Dunk
Brighton
Defender
Joe Gomez
Liverpool
Defender
Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa
Defender
Harry Maguire
Man Utd
Defender
John Stones
Man City
Defender
Kyle Walker
Man City
Defender
Declan Rice
Arsenal
Midfielder
Kobbie Mainoo
Man Utd
Midfielder
Jordan Henderson
Ajax
Midfielder
Conor Gallagher
Chelsea
Midfielder
James Maddison
Tottenham
Midfielder
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
Midfielder
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham
Forward
Phil Foden
Man City
Forward
Anthony Gordon
Newcastle
Forward
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
Forward
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
Forward
Marcus Rashford
Man Utd
Forward
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
Forward
Ivan Toney
Brentford
Forward
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Forward
Which England players are currently injured or unavailable?
The Three Lions are currently without a whole host of players expected to be in contention for the Euro 2024 squad.
Luke Shaw, scorer in the Euro 2020 final, has endured an injury-ridden campaign and could miss the rest of the season with his latest setback. However, if he’s fit for the summer, he’ll be expected to be in Southgate’s final squad.
Right-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James are also out, while Ben White is in the middle of a self-imposed exile, meaning Southgate’s options at a once stacked position are limited for the March friendlies. Marc Guehi’s current injury absence has hindered his chances of Euro 2024 selection.
A shoulder injury picked up Callum Wilson means he’s absent from the March squad, but the Newcastle striker was already fighting for his place given the form Ollie Watkins has displayed this season. Harry Kane’s ankle injury will also be monitored by the England camp.
Euro 2024 gets underway on 14 June with hosts Germany taking on Scotland. England’s first match arrives two days later on 16 June against Serbia.