England squad named for EURO 2024 training camp and games

Although England has always entered competitions with exaggerated hopes and confidence, the excitement is warranted this time. To win the trophy should be the sole goal of the Three Lions' trip to Germany.

In the last European Championship, Gareth Southgate's team was only a few penalties away from ending 55 years of suffering; still, ever since that painful final loss to Italy at Wembley, they have only improved. They performed well in the 2022 World Cup, losing to France by the narrowest of margins, and they have become used to going far in competitions—something that was unimaginable in the past.

Harry Kane is even more productive, smashing all kinds of scoring records in Germany with Bayern Munich. At the same time, Jude Bellingham won over the most picky supporters in the world and became Real Madrid's most valuable player.

Bukayo Saka has become Arsenal's talisman, England's Manchester City team has become used to winning trophies every few months, and marginal players like Ollie Watkins enjoy incredible seasons.

Southgate has no justification for not taking his team all the way this summer, with the embarrassment of resources at his disposal. Who, however, is going to be on England's Euro 2024 team? Following the May 21 announcement of a 33-man preliminary roster, GOAL lists the names in play.

England's 33-player provisional squad in full

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Predicted XI

Particularly during big competitions, Southgate is renowned for following his principles and not experimenting. Fair-weather England supporters with a rudimentary understanding of the squad might probably correctly predict the side he would choose in Germany.

The primary position of interest is left-back, where Shaw (should he be healthy) will go up against the inconsistent Kieran Trippier. Trippier is not left-footed, which is another benefit for the United defender.

The other unknowns are the starting lineup and the players who will join Rice, Bellingham, Kane, Saka, and Foden. The current leaders are Alexander-Arnold, Palmer, Mainoo, and Gallagher; however, a lot will rely on how bold Southgate wants to be immediately.

England XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden.

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

Ben White, who left the team amid the 2022 World Cup for 'personal reasons,' has made the unusual and contentious decision to decline a call-up to the squad. His choice costs Southgate one of the Premier League's best right-backs, but at least England has plenty of options in that area, as Reece James's absence shows.

Along with midfield stalwarts Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, and Manchester United's out-of-form attacker Marcus Rashford, the Chelsea full-back will be watching the competition from home with teammates Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling.