Why Marcus Rashford is not in England’s Euro 2024 squad

Marcus Rashford was one of Gareth Southgate’s old guard not included in England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad, with the Three Lions boss overseeing perhaps the most ruthless day of his tenure.

Southgate has long been criticised for supposed favouritism and being overly loyal to a select few, but an alternate direction has been taken for what could be his final major tournament at the helm.

Rashford is not the only familiar figure to miss out. Jordan Henderson, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, and Kalvin Phillips are also absent. While England’s core remains in tact, there’s scope for a new crop of players to step up and deliver in Germany this summer.

Rashford may never have asserted himself as a regular starter for his country, but he’s been almost ubiquitous in and around the England set-up even since his teenage emergence. Thus, while his 2023/24 campaign has been a disappointment, his omission is still somewhat of a surprise.

Here’s why the 26-year-old will not be heading to Euro 2024.

For Southgate, the explanation is simple.

“With Marcus, I just feel that other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons,” the England boss said after Tuesday’s squad announcement.

In his place, Southgate has pivoted to Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer, while familiar stars Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Jack Grealish have also been included in the provisional squad.

Rashford can have no complaints, even if Grealish has also struggled to replicate his 2022/23 brilliance. The Man Utd winger has scored just eight times in all competitions this season having netted on 30 occasions last term.

It’s been a campaign of tumult for Rashford which is set to conclude with a whimper. A start in the FA Cup final is unlikely with the winger struggling to get on the pitch over the past six weeks. His relationship with Erik ten Hag and the United supporters has deteriorated, so much so that a departure isn’t out of the question this summer.

2023/24 has followed the pattern of Rashford’s streaky career. At his best, only few are more destructive from wide areas, but he can appear almost forlorn and devoid of interest amid lean periods of form. The latter iteration of Rashford has manifested more often than not this term, and he’s always had a battle on his hands, given the rise of Gordon, in particular, to make England’s Euro 2024 squad.