Ruthless Southgate picks squad grounded on brutal reality

England manager Gareth Southgate has shown his ruthless edge but also exposed his concerns about injuries with his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is the big casualty, along with former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who have both been axed.

Southgate’s party has revealed serious headaches around selections in defence – so what are the big issues to take away as the countdown to Germany continues?

Rashford’s exclusion from England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024 will grab the headlines but Southgate has made a decision that is ruthless but also grounded in brutal reality.

Manchester United’s forward would only have been selected on memory as opposed to what he has delivered this season, which is not much. He would have been a punt at best and major tournaments are no time for those.

Southgate’s hard-nosed selection is spot on.

Rashford’s form has not merited selection, his chances reduced even further by rivals for his position such as Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United both having outstanding seasons.

It became clear Rashford faced a fight to make the plane to Germany when he only appeared briefly as a substitute in the two March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

And any temptation to pick Rashford on past form and contributions in previous major tournaments was correctly far outweighed by his dismal form at club level for United this season.

Rashford scored 30 goals in 56 games last season but has only hit the target eight times in 42 matches this term – and therein lies the rationale behind Southgate’s decision.

The player’s reaction was typically classy and dignified, swiftly taking to Instagram to wish Southgate and his squad well for Euro 2024.

Whether this is the end for Rashford at England level remains to be seen but he will need to perform far better and rejuvenate his career – potentially away from Old Trafford – to work his way through a talented queue of players in his position and get back to where he was.