Gareth Southgate will finalise his Engand squad for Euro 2024 on Friday night, before its official announcement on Saturday.
England beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 St James’ Park on Monday, and will play Iceland at Wembley on Friday in their last warm-up before the tournament. The squad must be submitted to Uefa by midnight after the game, before the Football Association announces the 26 who made the cut for the European Championship in Germany the following day.
The manager cut Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson and Ben Chilwell from his plans as he picked an initial 33-man training group, while young players such as Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford were all included.
Southgate’s side are one of the favourites to lift the trophy on 14 July, given their recent record in major tournaments and the outstanding form of their attacking players this season including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.
They have been drawn against Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia in Group C, but first Southgate must decide on his final squad, and there remains fierce competition for the 26 places at the tournament.
Here is a closer look at who is heading to the Euros, and who might miss out.
On the plane
Jordan Pickford
The Everton goalkeeper has been England’s No 1 for a long time and that position is safe – despite a poor error in the March friendly against Belgium – particularly given the way his closest challenger, Aaron Ramsdale, was usurped by David Raya at Arsenal this season.
John Stones
The Manchester City defender has been a stalwart for Southgate over the years, integral to deep runs at the 2018 World Cup and the last Euros, and the lack of centre-back alternatives only strengthens his position in the squad. Stones has struggled for fitness at times, but finished the season on the City bench and still has time to sharpen up before the tournament.
Harry Maguire
The Manchester United defender is one of Southgate’s most trusted players and he remains the most likely partner for Stones at Euro 2024, in what will be their fourth tournament together. A lack of playing time for his club had brought scepticism from fans and the media about his role this summer, but Maguire re-established himself in Erik ten Hag’s first team, and a calf injury is not expected to deny him a place on the plane.
Kyle Walker
Experience, recovery pace and an ability to play on the right of a back three all make the Manchester City captain an essential part of Southgate’s plans. Only Maguire and Kane and have won more than Walker’s 61 caps since the manager took charge in 2016.
Kieran Trippier
One of Southgate’s favourites, Trippier is likely to be part of the squad for his experience, versatility and his set-piece delivery. His form for Newcastle this season has not been to his typical high standards and he had battled injury over the past two months, but Trippier returned for the final games of the season and should go to Germany this summer, where he may be deployed at left-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold has struggled to get games for England at right-back, but a switch into midfield has seen him more involved for his country. The Liverpool vice-captain offers unique creativity as well as pinpoint set-piece delivery and could be an option alongside Rice as a deep-lying midfielder.
Jude Bellingham
The 20-year-old has quickly elevated himself to be one of England’s essential players. He is consistently producing outstanding performances both for his country and his club, Real Madrid, racking up goals and assists after driving runs from midfield. Southgate likes to use Bellingham as a No 10 playing off Harry Kane, and that is likely to be his primary role at the Euros.
Declan Rice
Rice has been one of Arsenal’s outstanding players this season, and his importance at international level has grown immeasurably over the past few years to the point where he is crucial to how England play. After Kane, Rice is arguably England’s hardest player to replace.
Phil Foden
Foden enjoyed his best season yet in a Manchester City shirt, becoming a talisman for the club that delivers time and again. He will be 24 when the Euros come around and is increasingly essential to Pep Guardiola’s City team, as well as England. His velcro control is unique in the national squad and Southgate’s only conundrum is where to fit Foden’s attacking talents into a team containing Bellingham, Saka and more.
Bukayo Saka
Saka is fast becoming a senior England player despite being only 22, and is set for a key role at Euro 2024. He has produced another excellent season for Arsenal, with 20 goals and 14 assists from 47 games, and Saka will be first choice on England’s right wing in Germany.
Cole Palmer
Chelsea’s talisman won the Premier League’s young player of the year award after scoring 26 goals and racking up 15 assists in all competitions. Palmer has two England caps, although a minor injury scuppered his chances of showing what he can do during March’s internationals. He played and scored against Bosnia, while those four goals against Everton in April underlined the point: a man in form, Palmer has to be on the plane.
Harry Kane
England’s captain remains their talisman on the pitch, both with his leadership and with his goals in a record-breaking debut season at Bayern Munich, even if it was also a trophyless one. The only concern is fitness after a back injury prevented Kane from playing in Bayern’s final game of the season, but he came off the bench to score against Bosnia.
Nearly there
Aaron Ramsdale
The goalkeeper lost his battle for a starting place at Arsenal with David Raya, but even so, he is likely to go to the Euros as Pickford’s deputy.
Conor Gallagher
Gallagher has been bright and energetic in his cluster of England caps and is clearly valued by the manager. He seems to have done enough to usurp more well-established internationals and regular starts for Chelsea this season have increased his chances of being selected for the Euros in a position where England lack depth.
Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo has had an impressive breakthrough year at Manchester United after graduating from the club’s academy, and the teenager reproduced that form in his first senior start for England against Belgium. Given the lack of midfield options, Mainoo may well have played himself into the Euros squad – and perhaps even the starting XI.
James Maddison
The midfielder struggled with an injury at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which prevented him from making an appearance, but he’s done just enough for Tottenham this season to earn another squad place at the Euros. Maddison will provide an alternative option as an attacking midfielder, though his minutes may be limited by Bellingham, Foden and the emergence of…
Ollie Watkins
Watkins has been sensational since Unai Emery took over as Aston Villa manager last year, and the striker makes a strong case for the role of Kane’s deputy at the Euros after finishing the Premier League season with the most assists (13) and joint-fourth most goals (19).
In contention
Dean Henderson
Henderson stood in for the injured Sam Johnstone at Crystal Palace in the final two months of the season, and was part of their impressive seven-game unbeaten run to end the campaign. He could now fill Johnstone’s spot as England’s third-choice goalkeeper at the Euros.
Lewis Dunk
Brighton’s captain had to wait five years for his second international cap but has enjoyed a flurry of chances under Southgate in the past 12 months. Dunk’s aerial dominance and ball-playing ability, honed at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, are valuable traits at centre-half, one of England’s most uncertain positions. But a costly mistake against Belgium raised fresh doubts over his ability to step up to international football.
Marc Guehi
The Crystal Palace defender is highly rated by the England coaching team and, at 23, could be a future cornerstone of the back line. Centre-back is a position that’s still up for grabs at Euro 2024 and Guehi has a real chance, especially after starts in qualifying. But a recent knee injury required surgery, so Guehi’s first start since January – against Aston Villa on the final day of the season – will have boosted his hopes.
Joe Gomez
The 26-year-old defender has been a semi-regular fixture in the Liverpool side since early December and his versatility could help earn a place in the England squad, with the ability to cover at both centre-back and full-back.
Ezri Konsa
Konsa is a vital part of an impressive Aston Villa team under Unai Emery. He played in England’s friendly against Brazil in March, and could travel to Germany as a back-up centre-half with the versatility to play right-back too.
Luke Shaw
When fit, Shaw is the preferred left-back in this England team, bringing attacking threat on the overlap. But he has spent most of the season out with a leg injury, before a hamstring strain ended his campaign early. Southgate opted to include Shaw in the 33-man training squad, but the race is on to be fully fit in Germany.
Eberechi Eze
Another Palace player in form, Eze finished the season strongly as the attacking fulcrum of the team, but he may find there is too much competition for places among England’s advanced midfielders when it comes to winning a spot at Euro 2024. Eze was excellent against Bosnia, boosting his chances of making the final squad.
Anthony Gordon
The Newcastle winger is enjoying a fine season at St James’ Park and his flurry of goal involvements makes a compelling case. Gordon earned his senior debut against Brazil and looked sharp, and the increase in tournament squad size from 23 players to 26 could play in his favour in a competitive area of the pitch.
Jarrod Bowen
Bowen had an excellent season for West Ham and showed bright attacking intent in his five England caps to date. On form Bowen has earned a place, but what may count against him is that he is a left-footed winger who likes to cut in from the right – a role which Saka, Foden and Palmer can all fill.
Jack Grealish
Grealish took time earning Southgate’s approval but, at 28 and with a treble on his CV, has become a regular squad member. However, the winger started only one of Manchester City’s last seven league matches, and the England manager has admitted that a lack of consistent game time is a concern when considering Grealish for what is such a competitive area of the squad.
Ivan Toney
The Brentford striker initially returned from a betting ban with four goals to put himself back in Southgate’s thoughts, and earned an immediate recall to the squad for March’s friendlies, where he scored a penalty against Belgium. But a goal drought at Brentford stretching back to mid-February is concerning and could count against Toney, even when taking into account his penalty prowess for potential shootouts at the Euros.
Outside bets
James Trafford
The Burnley goalkeeper and England Under-21 international was called up to the senior squad following an injury to Sam Johnstone in March, even though he had just been dropped by club manager Vincent Kompany. Trafford failed to win back his place at Burnley and that could cost him a spot at the Euros, but he is in the 33-man training squad.
Jarrad Branthwaite
The Everton centre-back has been impressive all season at the heart of Sean Dyche’s defence, with composure on the ball that belies his 21 years. But Branthwaite did not get the chance to make his England debut after receiving his first senior England call up for March’s friendlies, and so may be down Southgate’s pecking order, despite making the long list.
Jarell Quansah
The Liverpool centre-back has impressed in his breakout season, slotting in seamlessly alongside more experienced defenders. The 20-year-old may find he is given a taste of England’s senior camp but doesn’t make the final cut for Euro 2024.
Curtis Jones
Jones started the season well and was playing regularly in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield before injury struck, and he became more of a bit-part player in the second half of the campaign. England are short of midfielders and that could work in the 23-year-old’s favour after being selected for the training squad.
Adam Wharton
The Crystal Palace midfielder has been a crucial part of Palace’s team after a £22.5m move from Blackburn in January, and Southgate has recognised his progress with a place in England’s training squad. The box-to-box midfield position is one where England lack competition, but this tournament may have come a bit too early for the 20-year-old.
Missing out
Ben White
The Arsenal defender left the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons and has not returned to the England setup. Southgate revealed that White “doesn’t want to be considered for England squads at this time”, and the right-back did not change his mind before the Euros.
Reece James
The full-back is one of the best in the world when in full flight but his lack of consistent fitness is a concern. He needed to return with a strong run of performances to finish the season but that never materialised after a red card against Brighton in Chelsea’s penultimate game.
Ben Chilwell
The Chelsea left-back didn’t play a single minute at the last Euros and watched on as Shaw, and occasionally Trippier, filled that spot. Chilwell was a little unconvincing during the March friendlies and then picked up another problem in an injury-hit campaign, missing Chelsea’s run-in – before he was left out of England’s training squad.
Jordan Henderson
The midfielder was booed by England fans in last year’s internationals at Wembley following his move to the Saudi Pro League but that only seemed to strengthen Southgate’s loyalty to the player. Henderson hoped his push for a place on the plane was boosted after a return to European football with Ajax. However, his England career could be over after missing out on the Euros’ training squad.
Kalvin Phillips
Phillips was another firm favourite with the England manager but has not shown his best over the past 18 months. A red card while on loan at West Ham brought criticism, and a hamstring injury ended his spell in east London prematurely. Even if fit, Phillips hasn’t found the form to earn a place on the plane.
Marcus Rashford
The Manchester United forward is the third-highest goalscorer of the Southgate era with 16, behind only Kane and Raheem Sterling. But his poor club form this season raised questions while others like Palmer, Gordon and Bowen push for places, and he has been left out of the training squad, with Southgate saying he simply hasn’t played well enough to earn a spot.
Jadon Sancho
The Manchester United winger has rebounded during a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and will be one of only two Englishmen in the Champions League final, up against Real Madrid’s Bellingham. But it has been three years since his last international cap and he did not win a recall.
Raheem Sterling
The Chelsea winger was not involved in recent camps, and although his form showed signs of promise earlier in the campaign, it was not enough to oust any of the new generation.
Predicting England’s Euro 2024 squad
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson.
Defenders: Walker, Trippier, Gomez, Stones, Dunk, Maguire, Guehi, Konsa, Shaw.
Midfielders: Rice, Mainoo, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Maddison, Bellingham.
Forwards: Saka, Bowen, Foden, Palmer, Eze, Gordon, Watkins, Kane.
When is the squad announced?
Southgate announced a training squad on Tuesday 21 May, two days after the Premier League season concluded, naming 33 players.
England will play warm-up matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 June and Iceland on 6 June, before the final 26-player squad is confirmed on Saturday 8 June.
When do the Euros begin?
Euro 2024 begins on Friday 14 June when Germany take on Scotland in Munich.
England play Serbia in Gelsenkirchen the following night, before games against fellow Group C opponents Denmark and Slovenia.
Take a look at the full schedule here.