England Euro 2024 squad: Henderson and Rashford axed from Southgate's preliminary national team roster

Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson have been left out of England’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024.

Manchester United forward Rashford and former Liverpool captain Henderson have been mainstays of the Southgate era and were influential as England reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Since then, Rashford’s form has collapsed at Manchester United to the extent that he has lost his starting spot in Erik ten Hag’s injury-hit squad.

Henderson made a controversial switch from Liverpool to Al Ettifaq last summer. He featured in England squads over the past season but his transfer to Ajax in January after an unhappy six months in the Saudi Pro League has not been enough to save his spot. At the press conference for the squad unveiling, Southgate highlighted Henderson's recent five-week stint on the sidelines with injury as being significant.

Increased depth of quality and competition in both central midfield and the wide attacking positions has seemingly left Henderson and Rashford with nowhere to turn, even when it came to earning a place in this initial 33-man party.

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Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo impressed when collecting his first two senior caps in March. Uncapped Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton has been rewarded for his superb form since getting his Premier League move from Blackburn Rovers during the mid-season transfer window. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones steps up to the seniors for the first time after racking up 20 England Under-21 caps.

The emergence of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon this season made Rashford’s absence easier to foresee, while Jarrod Bowen also enjoyed a prolific campaign at West Ham.

Southgate is not so flushed with options in defence, as evidenced by the presence of uncapped centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarrell Quansah from either side of the Merseyside divide.

How many players are in Euro 2024 squads?

On May 3, 2024, UEFA's executive committee confirmed national teams would be able to name 26 players in their Euro 2024 squads.

This was the number allowed due to the impact of COVID-19 upon Euro 2020, while the FIFA World Cup taking place in the middle of the 2022/23 European season meant larger squads were also permitted.

UEFA intended to revert to a 23-man limit for Euro 2024 but the national competitions committee voting in favour of 26-man squads forced a rethink.

England preliminary Euro 2024 squad

Ages, caps are correct as of May 21, 2024.

Can England replace players on Euro 2024 roster?

Teams must confirm their preliminary squads by May 21 and submit final squad lists to UEFA by June 7.

Replacements can be made on the grounds of illness or injury up until June 13, the day before the tournament starts. 

Once Euro 2024 begins, teams must find solutions from within their 26-man squads.

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England Euro 2024 schedule, warmup games and matches

England will play home friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St. James' and Iceland at Wembley before departing to their Euro 2024 base in Blankenhain.