Gareth Southgate has sent shockwaves through English football, making the brutal decision to axe Liverpool's creative force Trent Alexander-Arnold from his final 26-man squad for the European Championships in Germany.
The Three Lions boss confirmed his devastating choices at a press conference on Thursday, with the exclusion of the prolific right-back and playmaker standing as the most contentious call. Despite a stellar end to the season with Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has been deemed surplus to requirements.
He is not alone in his disappointment. Manchester City's Jack Grealish and Tottenham's James Maddison have also been cut from the provisional squad, a crushing blow for two players once considered key attacking talents.
Defensive Shake-Up and Shaw's Fitness Gamble
In further surprising news, the experienced head of Harry Maguire has been left out due to a calf injury that ultimately made him unfit for selection. This leaves a significant hole in the heart of England's defence.
Southgate is also taking a monumental gamble on the fitness of left-back Luke Shaw. The Manchester United defender hasn't played a single minute of football since February but has been included in the final squad, hoping to prove his fitness in time to feature in the tournament.
Who Made the Cut?
The final squad sees the inclusion of several players who have fought their way into contention. Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, a relative newcomer to the top flight, has been rewarded for his impressive form with a spot on the plane.
Elsewhere, Everton's centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Liverpool's young talent Jarell Quansah were the other players trimmed from the initial 33-man training group, missing out on the final selection.
All eyes will now be on how Southgate's new-look squad fares in its final warm-up match against Iceland at Wembley this Friday, before embarking on its quest for Euro 2024 glory.
