Marcus Rashford paid the price for his poor season with Manchester United after being left out of England manager Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany this summer. The group must be reduced to 26 people before the start of the tournament.
Rashford will not play at a major international forum for the Three Lions for the first time since World Cup 2014. He has scored just eight goals in 42 appearances for United in all competitions this season, having recently returned from injury.
"Some decisions are difficult. In the case of Marcus, I just think other players in that area of the pitch did better during the season. It's as simple as that", Southgate said, while Rashford himself wrote the following on social media: "I wish Gareth and the boys all the best".
Apart from Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Reece James, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Kalvin Phillips did not find a place in the squad.
England, one of the favorites for a maiden European title in their history, play Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 and Iceland four days later in their two friendlies. In Germany, the Three Lions are in Group C along with the teams of Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, Ezri Konza, Lewis Dunk
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones
Forwards: Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Jarrod Bowen, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer, James Maddison, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Eberechi Eze. /BGNES
