Alan Pardew has named the players he thinks won’t make the cut for England at Euro 2024.
Ahead of this summer’s tournament, Gareth Southgate named a 33-man preliminary squad but will have to cut this down to 26 players by midnight on Friday.
Notable omissions already include Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson, as well as Reece James and Ben Chilwell.
But a further seven names, who originally made the 33-man squad, will not travel to Germany with England for Euro 2024.
James Maddison is the first player to have been told he will not be in the final 26 and the Tottenham star has already left the Three Lions camp.
Speaking to Sam Matterface on White and Jordan before the Maddison news, former Crystal Palace boss Pardew has picked out who he thinks will get cut.
Pardew said: “I think, when you say it’s a difficult decision for Gareth, I think it’s a great decision for Gareth.
“Listen, it’s a horrible thing to sit down and tell them they’re not going, that’s the bad part. The good part is what is left because if they’re better than these players, then they’ve done very, very well.
“No one deserves not to go, let’s make that clear, they all deserve to go. They’ve had great seasons, that’s why they’re in the 33. But I’ve got seven here I think won’t go, I don’t think [Curtis] Jones will go, I don’t think [James] Trafford will go, I don’t think [Jarrad] Branthwaite will go.
“I’m not sure [Ezri] Konsa will go because I don’t think we need cover at right-back, we’ve got loads of cover there. We have [Joe] Gomez who can do that [play in multiple positions] so personally, I don’t think he’ll [Konsa] go.
“[Ivan] Toney I don’t think will go. [Jarell] Quansah won’t go.”
Pardew was stuck about who the seventh player will be, but that decision was already made for him with Maddison being left out.
Matterface then pointed out that he would be taking a lot of attacking players, but Pardew explained: “Yeah because most of those also double up as midfield players. So don’t get carried away with, ‘We’ve got 11 strikers.’
“There are also central midfield areas that they cover, [Jack] Grealish, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] for example, you know, whatever. But I personally think that when you look to see games out, it’s not often you really take defenders off.
“To win games, nine times out of ten you’re taking forwards off to try and produce some new ideas, try and create a different problem for the team. The more options you have in the attacking element is always essential in my view, and I always used to overload my bench with attackers.”
England’s preparations for the Euros kicked off on Monday with a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, with another test against Iceland coming on Friday, live on talkSPORT.
The Three Lions’ first clash in Germany comes on June 16 when they play Serbia before further fixtures against Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.
England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad
Gareth Southgate will trim his squad down to 26 players
GOALKEEPERS: Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Jordan Pickford
DEFENDERS: Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Lewis Dunk, Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Joe Gomez
MIDFIELDERS: Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold
FORWARDS: Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins
Pardew’s predicted cuts: James Trafford, Jarrad Branthwaite, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones, Ivan Toney, Harry Maguire or Luke Shaw or Adam Wharton
News Summary:
- James Maddison already out with six other England stars warned about Euro 2024 place
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.