Gareth Southgate names the England squad with changes for the 2024 Euros qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine later this month.
The Three Lions begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, playing their first games since the defeat by France in the World Cup quarter finals back in December 2022.
England will face a trip to Italy on the 23rd of March, before a home match against Ukraine three days later.
Difficult decisions are expected to be made, with a number of players dropped, and some new fresher inclusions selected.
Italy v England
UEFA EURO 2024 European Qualifier
7.45pm, Thursday 23 March 2023
Diego Armando Maradona Stadium
England v Ukraine
UEFA EURO 2024 European Qualifier
5pm, Sunday 26 March 2023
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
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SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford)
England manager Gareth Southgate on Toney:
“The fact is that Ivan is available for his club, there hasn’t been a trial or any judgement as yet, so I don’t know on what basis we wouldn’t pick him.
“Before the World Cup, Callum Wilson had a brilliant run of form and hit form just at the right time. He’s had a bit of an injury inhibiting him in the last few weeks, while Ivan’s been consistent over the season.
“The moment we named that squad, he had a brilliant game at Manchester City, which was typical, but he’s playing really well. I like his presence in games, I saw his game at Arsenal where he was outstanding and deserves his opportunity.”
Southgate on Sterling:
“Raheem Sterling’s not fit, we would have selected him had he been available.
“With Ben White, it’s similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold, really. The three boys who are in as right full-backs, we’ve got them just ahead of those two, we’re blessed in that position with the depth of talent.
“It’s the hardest position to pick, albeit it’s never straightforward criteria and shifting around a little bit on form.
“Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were the ones who played at the World Cup, and Reece James coming back is another top player.
“We’d love to have that depth in every position on the field, really.”
Southgate on squad depth:
“It’s impossible [to just pick players who are playing]. We’ve got to pick our best players where possible, and then there’s a balance between going for a certain level of player who isn’t playing as regularly, or a level that’s physically fit and doing well.
“It’s interesting talking to other coaches of national teams that they feel the same, and they feel the same of picking your best players, so long as they can get to a reasonable physical level.
“That’s where we are with it, really. You’d love to have that depth, but we are shorter than the other big nations on depth of selection. I’m happy with the quality we have to pick from, but in certain positions we are short of depth.
“Those numbers are deteriorating rapidly in the Premier League, it’s not a concern for me in the next 18 months but in four of five years time, we have to be really careful on that.”
On Kyle Walker situation:
“It’s a complicated situation [with Kyle Walker]. I’ve spoken at length with him, the fact is at the moment that he’s back playing with his club and there’s no conclusive evidence to leave him out at this stage.
“I’ve got to be careful about being the moral judge on things, and we’ve had a couple of long conversations. We feel we want him with us, that’s the right thing to do, and we also know that when you’re an England international there’s an even higher bar on how you conduct yourselves and what’s expected.
“I don’t think we’re taking these decisions lightly.”
Southgate had been thinking about his future following the World Cup quarter-final defeat, and the news he will remain in post has been welcomed by former defender Gary Neville who said it was “the right decision”.
Southgate had a contract until the 2024 European Championships, but admitted to feeling “conflicted” about staying on given what has often been a difficult 18 months.
But the former England defender will now remain in charge for a fourth major tournament.
“I am in a job with the chance to make some history and I have the privilege of leading the national team,” he said.
“It has been an unbelievable experience and I think we have made progress with the team across the years we have been in charge and I’m determined to try to drive the team to that next step.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to lead my country and I am very conscious of that honour.”
When asked if the support he received post-tournament was key to the decision to stay on, Southgate replied: “It definitely lifts you when you go out of a tournament that you’ve been working towards for four years.
“The moment you depart is really difficult to take and you know the steps you have to take for the next one. But I don’t think you can make decisions as a manager just from having support from everybody because you are never going to have the support of everybody – governments get elected on 30 per cent of the vote and it’s the same with the England manager.
“I’m not worried about coming through those periods like last Autumn when the heat is on and you have to deal with it because it’s important that you show the players that you can handle that. But of course, it’s better for the team if everybody is [on board] with where we are heading and if everyone, or the majority, are showing belief in what we’re trying to do because the team feed off that positivity and energy.”
While his current contract runs until December 2024, Southgate also has England’s long-term development in mind.
“Whenever I leave this role, I’m still an England fan and want them to do well,” he said.
“I don’t have a problem with whatever the succession might be and England doing well once I’ve gone because no manager is going to be around forever.
“It’s a privilege to do the role and I feel the team are still in the process of improving. We have some exciting players who are getting better, we’re able to play closer to our best level in these knockout games now, and we’re playing with a lot more freedom in those moments, which is a good thing.
“We’re getting more experience of those latter stages of tournament which for the next generations is going to be important. The expectations are higher and that’s a good thing.
“I’m never worried about someone else taking over and benefitting. That’s how it should work. We’re talking about building a future for England for now, for the next few months and the next tournament but also beyond that because that has always been the body of work here.”
Southgate adds: “I think now we are in a different landscape to any previous England team I guess.
“Because of the success we’ve had, in our own minds, winning is the only thing which is going to fulfil us.
“Of course, if that is the only way we are judged as a team, then it’s very difficult for the team to succeed but that has to be the challenge for us.
“We’ve been so close now, we’ve been consistent across three tournaments to a level where only France have had collectively better tournaments – and even they only managed a semi-final in the EUROs.
“That’s the challenge for us and I know that the desire is to win and that is how I feel about it as well.”
Southgate has picked up 49 wins out of 81 games as England manager, with 18 draws and 14 defeats, while his side have scored 174 goals and conceded 57.
Only two previous managers have reached a half-century in the win column – Sir Alf Ramsey with 69 and England’s longest-serving manager Sir Walter Winterbottom, on 78.
This is what fans said as Gareth Southgate names the England squad with changes for the Euros qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine…
@DanLewis1999: Toney? Would have got good odds on that…
@Ozzystaff69420: No OLLIE WATKINS
@avfctobi6: Watkins robbed
@ChrisTrotter161: No Watkins is outrageous 😤
@jesshoskingx: Toney called up despite the betting allegations, interesting!
@nafabrown1212: The same Kalvin Phillips who can’t get a kick for city?
@ArsenalAnoop: KALVIN PHILIPS got a spot in 2023 for footballing reasons.
@tiwariiiiiii: Watkins literally one of the most inform strikers 😭
@pxgba6ii: Gallagher Mount and Maguire picked for hardly playing or playing horrible, this manager rewards failure😭
@thfcmxtt: Disgraceful that you’ve picked GALLAGHER, HENDERSON AND PHILLIPS over Oliver Skipp
@jaymiz64: I’m really struggling to see what Mount has done in the last what 18 months or possibly longer to warrant a guaranteed spot in the England squad.
@Jayden_WBA: Why is Phillips still in. He doesn’t deserve it. Tomori has played week in week out and not got picked
@AzariaJohnson14: Ollie watkins robbed. Foden only getting form for the past two weeks while ollie has since jan
@ConnorWhiten: PALACE HAVENT WON A GAME IN 2023 AND YOU PICK GUEHI
@YorkshireVillan: no watkins? what’s the guy have to do??
@DanAV___: what happened to picking players on form ?
@JHinton2312: Dier maguire guehi Henderson Phillips don’t deserve to be in the squad.
@TheSpursScout:
For me i would’ve picked:
Tomori for Maguire
Skipp for Gallagher
Morgan Gibbs White for Mount
Probably a case for Colwill aswell.
@Thestandsofvp:
Anti Villa again big nose.
What’s Watkins got to do?
Also why does Guehi or Dier deserve the nod over Mings. Joker
@Woy44nopxcd: How does Dier always manage to sneak himself into these squad announcements?? Tomori is always left out 😭😭😭
@sugatingz: southgate wasn’t picking trent during his best so i had no expectations for him to pick him during his worst either 🫂 also maguire and philips??:)/ 😭😭
@PursuitOfTruthB: Maguire and Dier in over the likes of Dunk/Colwill/Burn/White/Webster. Hilarious. And Gallagher and Phillips who barely play for their teams get in over someone like Solly. Absolute disgrace, and am so sorry for these and other deserving call ups who are let down by this fraud.
@GarySmithJnr: Maguire and Phillips both make the squad but don’t play for their clubs. 😑 I think Watkins deserves a call up, but from the 6 listed forwards, be difficult for him to get in over them.
@lfccxt: nah southgate must be in love with kalvin phillips because that guy has played for city about 3 times this season 😭😭😭
@JL90852: Dier, Maguire, Gallagher, Phillips, Mount all in. The top 6 biast is a joke.
@PompeyKai: Each of Maguire, Dier and Guehi preferred to one of AC Milan’s best players and Champions League quarter finalist Fikayo Tomori. I can’t say anything about Gareth Southgate that I haven’t said before but I can’t wait for the day that he leaves.
@buendiazboyz: Kane Rashford and Haaland are the only guys to score more than Watkins post World Cup what more can he do?
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