Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford found himself excluded from Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, announced on Tuesday, following a lackluster season.
Among the notable omissions were former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Chelsea skipper Reece James, with the squad set to be reduced to a maximum of 26 before the tournament commences in Germany.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton earned his maiden call-up after an impressive end to the Premier League season, while defensive options saw Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Liverpool duo Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones selected as uncapped players.
England faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 and Iceland four days later before departing for Germany, where they are considered strong contenders for the title.
Despite a wealth of attacking talent, Rashford's inconsistent form saw him miss out on a major international tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Cup, having scored just eight goals in 42 appearances for his club this season.
Southgate commented, "These are difficult calls. With Marcus, I just feel other players in that area have had better seasons. It's as simple as that."
Henderson's move to Ajax in January following a brief stint in Saudi Arabia did not secure him a place due to an injury sustained in the last international camp, which hindered his return to top form.
Similarly, Jadon Sancho, despite a resurgence at Borussia Dortmund, and Raheem Sterling and Kalvin Phillips were overlooked, with the squad featuring a formidable array of creative talents including Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka to support Harry Kane.
England embarks on their campaign to secure their first major tournament victory in 58 years against Serbia on June 16, followed by matches against Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.
The squad includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, with Southgate cautiously optimistic about their chances, stating, "Are we one of those teams who can win? Of course. But if I said yes, that doesn't mean there's not a lot of work ahead of us."
England's Euro 2024 Provisional Squad:
- Goalkeepers:
Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Burnley)
- Defenders:
Kyle Walker, John Stones (Manchester City), Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
- Midfielders:
Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
- Forwards:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), James Maddison (Tottenham), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Phil Foden, Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
