Gareth Southgate has just had his Euro 2024 qualifier press conference about his 26-man squad selection. Here’s what he had to say:
The absence of Raheem Sterling – ‘Raheem not happy about it’
Raheem Sterling has had an electric start to the season for Chelsea with 2 goals and an assist in the first three Premier League games. Sterling has missed out on the past two England squads due to form struggles. Now he is back on top, Southgate answers as to why he wasn’t picked.
“He (Sterling) was not available for the last two and of course that has given other people the opportunity to play well and establish themselves in the group, it is a difficult call and Raheem isn’t particularly happy about it – I’m convinced he will have a good season at Chelsea, I’ve no doubt about that.”
The inclusion of Maguire and Henderson – ‘It is important we have some experience’
Southgate was asked about Henderson and whether the former-Liverpool man would be international-level quality to be in the England camp.
“We’ve watched every game, the key as we move forward is going to be the physical intensity of the league, because of the heat as well, whether that is going to allow him to perform at the level we need, clearly the level of the league is changing all the time, lots of countries are going to have this issue. Portugal have got a few players there, I’m sure they are going to be playing international football.”
Harry Maguire hasn’t registered a single minute this season at Man Utd and Southgate was questioned about deciding to choose the 30-year-old defender.
“We have lost a lot of experienced players with caps at centre-half, we are giving some less experienced players the opportunity to come into the squad but unfortunately it looks like Tyrone is out for the season, Stones is out for this camp, Eric Dier hasn’t been in the Tottenham squad. There is a space there and I think for these two games it is important we have some experience in that place of the pitch. With Harry and Kalvin Phillips, it is far from ideal that they’re not playing football”.
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