'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Gareth Southgate has announced the 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 and he has made quite a few curious choices. The England manager had earlier announced a 33-man provisional squad that is preparing for two warm-up friendlies ahead of Euro 2020.
He has now trimmed it down to 26. Given the kind of talent pool that Southgate was dealing with, he was always going to have to make difficult decisions. Managers have to put their personal bias and sentiments at the gates and go with personnel that adds value and quality to the team.
England have a wide array of talents to choose from. The Premier League is packed with extremely talented English players but some have not made the cut despite having good seasons at an individual level.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the four big mistakes made by Gareth Southgate in selecting the England squad for Euro 2020.
#4 Southgate chooses four right-backs in England squad for Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate has made the curious decision to include four right-backs in his squad for Euro 2020. He has chosen Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Reece James and Trent-Alexander Arnold. All four players have performed well in recent times and the Liverpool right-back has been in sublime form of late.
Both Kyle Walker and Reece James have played as part of a three-man defence as well. It looks like Southgate is likely to go with a three-at-the-back system. If that's the case, then he will need wing-backs. Trent-Alexander Arnold has quite possibly been selected for his midfield ability and it could be him or Reece James that starts out wide.
If he goes for a traditional four-man defence, then he has all four players at his disposal but only one will make the cut. As such, even though Southgate has preferred using Kieran Trippier in the past, it certainly looks like he could have been left out. With Walker, James and Alexander Arnold, Southgate has everything covered.
Meanwhile, the England manager has just two options on the left wing. He has selected Manchester United's Luke Shaw and Chelsea's Ben Chilwell. Both Shaw and Chilwell are a cut above their competition and their selections are entirely justified.
But the point to note here is that Southgate could have chosen to add more depth to other areas on the pitch by limiting the number of right-backs. Right now, England's squad for Euro 2020 is riddled with them, several of whom share the same qualities.
#3 Gambling on Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson
Yes, England could definitely use the experience and leadership skills of both Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson going into Euro 2020. They're the captains of two of the biggest clubs in England and their teams have suffered in their absence.
However, neither Harry Maguire nor Jordan Henderson is fully fit. Henderson last played a game in February. Maguire picked up an injury on the 9th of May and has not played since. By the time the Euros start, it will be more than a month since his last game.
Harry Maguire has not traveled with the team for the friendlies. Both players will take time to settle down and be fully match-fit and therefore, including them in the squad is quite a gamble. Pundit and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand opined that Maguire should have been left out due to his injury. He told FIVE:
"England needed another centre-back. This tells me he [Southgate] is definitely playing three at the back. Harry Maguire’s not even fit, I wouldn’t even take Maguire. You’re not fit, you’re not going to be fit for ages, it doesn’t make sense.
"I’ve been in squads with players who haven’t been fit and they don’t perform when they’re not themselves. It happened with Becks [David Beckham] and Wazza [Wayne Rooney]. As good as Maguire is, he’s not a Becks or a Wazza.
"I don’t think you should take someone who’s not 100% fit. It’s hard to come back and get into a rhythm."
#2 Southgate goes for big names over form form as he selects England squad for Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate seems to have made some old-fashioned choices when it comes to his midfield and frontline. His midfield appears to have one too many defensively minded midfielders. If Jack Grealish is going to be deployed as a forward as he has been named in the squad, then Mason Mount is their only attacking midfield option.
Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips have all earned their places but Southgate should have included Jesse Lingard too. Lingard was in blistering form in the second half of the Premier League season. He offers a kind of threat that's different from other midfielders in the side.
Lingard's direct running and shooting abilities would have added an edge to England's midfield. Ollie Watkins' omission from the squad is also a bit surprising. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was not reliable as a goalscorer in the second half of the season. Watkins, on the other hand, was in good form towards the end of the 2020-21 campaign.
Harry Kane can do everything that Calvert-Lewin does and better. Ollie Watkins is a bit different in that sense. His movement and pace makes him a different kind of proposition. Adding him to the squad would have added more dynamism to England's attack.
#1 Lack of experience in midfield
Take Jordan Henderson out of the equation and England have a young, inexperienced midfield. Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount and Kalvin Phillips are all players who recently made their debuts for the international side in recent times.
None of the England midfielders other than Jordan Henderson have made more than 20 appearances for the Three Lions. It's going to be a real test of character for all the youngsters involved. They will be constantly faced with high-stakes situations and will need to depend on each other.
This is where someone like Jesse Lingard could have really helped the side. But it's not to be and Southgate should hope that Henderson can prove his fitness and become a regular feature in the side.
Kindly help Sportskeeda's Football section improve. Take a 30-second survey now
