Who Will Make Gareth Southgate’s England Squad For Euro 2024?
By
Matthew Glazier
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5 mins
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Fact Checked by Mark Fordham
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England reached the final of Euro 2020, and they will look to go one better in Germany next summer. The Three Lions are among the favourites with the betting sites and are expected to qualify from a group that also includes Italy and Ukraine. Manager Gareth Southgate has chosen his first squad since the 2022 World Cup, where the team bowed out at the quarter-final stage against France.
As you might expect, several members of the latest squad featured for their country in Qatar, with Ivan Toney the only uncapped player to feature in the current 23-man setup. The Brentford striker was omitted from the World Cup squad and some anticipated an upcoming FA ban might put paid to his chances of representing England.
James Maddison has been retained by Southgate, with Chelsea full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell hoping to stake their claims after missing the World Cup with injury. Jude Bellingham remains a central figure for the Three Lions and is likely to be massive odds-on to make the final squad with football betting sites. However, eyebrows have been raised when it has come to the selection of Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips, given their current playing time at their clubs.
The best betting apps are yet to provide odds for players to make the England squad, although we have come up with a long list of potential candidates to be on the plane to Germany next summer.
*current odds projected by Bookmakers.com
Gareth Southgate Picks First England Euro 2024 Qualifying Squad
England begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with matches against Italy and Ukraine, with Gareth Southgate potentially taking charge for the final tournament next summer after a highly successful stint in charge of the national team. England are likely to be among the favourites with bookmakers to go all the way.
In this article, we look at the latest 23-man squad that has been selected and consider which players are banker material to be lining up for England in Germany next summer, while we will also cast our eye over those who will hope to break into the squad over the coming months.
There were no big surprises in Southgate's squad for the March qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, with Southgate staying loyal to a number of players who were part of England's 26-man World Cup squad. The projected football betting app odds suggest they are likely to be on the plane.
James Maddison Remains in the England Setup
Leading up to the 2022 World Cup, James Maddison had more goal involvements than any other English player, and the massive clamour for the Leicester City midfielder to be included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad led to the playmaker being called up.
Maddison has continued to have injury problems during the 2022/23 season, although the fact that he has now been called up for the first Euro 2024 qualifiers suggests he's now a preferred option for Southgate, especially with Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling unavailable right now.
The first Euro 2024 qualifiers are a chance for Maddison to cement his place in the squad and continue to rack up the caps ahead of Germany next summer.
Ivan Toney Back in the England Squad
The football betting sites didn't fancy the chances of Ivan Toney making the 2022 World Cup squad in the end, with Gareth Southgate opting for Callum Wilson instead.
However, Toney has now muscled his way in front of the Newcastle forward for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with Southgate clearly impressed by the striker's consistently strong performances for a Brentford side who are in the top half of the Premier League.
Toney does have a potential FA ban hanging over him for alleged betting breaches, although he will hope to earn his first cap against either Italy or Ukraine, with this potentially being the start of a long run in the team for the forward.
Bookies Expecting Manchester City Contingent to Be Included
New betting sites are sure to suggest that a number of Manchester City players will be included in the squad, with John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips among them.
It is clear that Gareth Southgate is more likely to pick a player at Manchester City than any other club, with Phillips getting the nod in the latest squad despite a distinct lack of football for the Citizens this term.
Walker and Stones remain reliable defensive assets, while Grealish and Foden surely need to remain fit and they will be included in future England squads now that both players have broken into the England setup.
Alexander-Arnold and White Notable Omissions
Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a divisive figure among football fans, with the Liverpool full-back having been part of the 26-man squad that represented England in Qatar, although one always suspected that was partly down to Reece James being injured.
Now that James is back to full fitness, Alexander-Arnold has been omitted from the latest Three Lions squad, and it's not a particularly controversial decision in the eyes of many. The full-back has been inconsistent this season and his Liverpool team have been the same.
As for Ben White, you could argue that the Arsenal defender is worthy of a place in the team when you consider that Marc Guehi has been included. However, perhaps there has been a falling out between White and Southgate, with the latter deciding to opt against a player who is performing well for the Gunners.
Sterling and Mount Could Return to Three Lions Squad
While Southgate admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben White have been left out of the England squad despite being fit, the reason for Raheem Sterling's absence is injury-related.
Sterling has been a regular pick for Southgate since he took charge of the England team, although perhaps there are no guarantees that he will be back in the team following a return to fitness.
The same applies to Mason Mount, who hasn't had a standout season for Chelsea this year and faces competition from the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the middle of the park.
Maguire Nailed-On For England Squad Despite Being a United Sub
Gareth Southgate has several dilemmas when it comes to picking his 23-man squad for Euro 2024. However, Harry Maguire’s spot has never been in any doubt, even if the Manchester United player has fallen out of favour with Erik ten Hag. When Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are both fit, Maguire is typically on the bench.
Even so, Maguire has always been a consistent performer for the Three Lions and has the experience of playing for his country at two World Cups and Euro 2020. He has been a rock at the back in tournaments, and Southgate is likely to include him in the starting lineup.
Rashford Now Looks Like an England Banker
It's wild to think that Marcus Rashford was left out of England squads before the World Cup when you consider the impact that the forward has had in the past 12 months. The Manchester United forward is one of the top scorers in the Premier League this season and only injury keeps him out of the latest setup.
Rashford is now an England regular again, and it would be a major surprise if he wasn't on the plane to Germany next summer. He has made the most of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Old Trafford, and his performances in Qatar were excellent.
As former Head of Marketing at Bet365, Matthew Glazier has a wealth of experience in the betting industry. He continues to provide dynamic content for a range of websites and specialises particularly in football and golf, all the while supporting his beloved Tranmere Rovers.
