Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers vs Malta and North Macedonia. However, there has been some uproar amongst England fans on controversial decisions made by the England manager.
The England squad is listed below:
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Rico Lewis, Harry Maguire, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Cole Palmer, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins
One controversial decision is the missing out of West Ham midfielder, James Ward-Prowse. So far in the 2023/24 season, James Ward-Prowse has played 17 games for his club, scoring two goals and assisting ten. He has been a vital part of West Ham's midfield this season and has contributed to The Irons currently sitting 9th in the Premier League.
One England fan and social media star who is desperate to see James Ward-Prowse in the England squad is Mark Goldbridge. He has publicly stated that believes Ward-Prowse should be in the England squad ahead of many England stars. One of these being Kalvin Phillips. Goldbridge has stated, “If Phillips gets called up for England over Ward-Prowse, there should be protests on the streets of every city in England for Southgate to go!”
Goldbridge is adamant that James Ward-Prowse deserves to be in the England squad, and especially ahead of Jordan Henderson. The former Liverpool captain recently moved to Saudi Arabia in the Summer and has scored no goals but got four assists for Al-Ettifaq in 11 matches. Goldbridge has stated that it is ‘an outrage and an embarrassment’ that Jordan Henderson is still playing for England.
Another controversial decision made by Gareth Southgate is the missing out of Raheem Sterling in the England squad. Raheem Sterling has scored five goals in 14 matches for Chelsea and has made important contributions for his side. However, his teammate Cole Palmer managed to make the squad, and he got his first senior England cap last week. In 14 matches, Palmer has scored six goals and got four assists, impressing Gareth Southgate.
England fans aren't sure as to why Gareth Southgate has made some of the decisions he has made, however the country will have to get behind him and the team for the Euros next Summer, with the FA sticking with the man who guided England to the final in 2021.