England announced their final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 next month with both forwards Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford getting a spot. In all, manager Roy Hodgson has named three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards.
Hodgson had initially named a 26-man squad as he looked to find the ideal combination before booking tickets to France. With Fabian Delph already ruled out due to a groin injury, there were only two other players who had to be cut.
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The other two players who did not make the cut were Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend. Drinkwater had won the Premier League title with the Foxes but Hodgson opted to go with midfielders who had more experience in the England setup.
Meanwhile, Townsend has had a good second half of the season on an individual level but he was unable to prevent the Magpies from getting relegated. The winger was only called up as a backup when Danny Welbeck injured himself and Townsend failed to make the final squad in spite of the support of the Three Lions’ assistant coach Gary Neville.
There was immense speculation that only one of either Sturridge or Rashford would make the final squad and the Liverpool forward’s struggles with injury had threatened to ruin his chances of going to the summer tournament. But Hodgson has opted to pick both players along with captain Wayne Rooney (who could play in a deeper role), Jamie Vardy and this season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere also made the cut in spite of returning to action in the month of the Premier League season. The midfielder had been out of action since the start of the season after he required a surgery on his leg.
He will be competing with the likes of Dele Alli, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year, Ross Barkley, James Milner and Jordan Henderson for a spot in the starting lineup. Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling are expected to play on the wings.
England squad for Euro 2016
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)
Midfielders: James Milner (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
