England's Euro 2020 squad: Alan Smith's reaction to Gareth Southgate's selection
England's Euro 2020 squad: Alan Smith's reaction to Gareth Southgate's selection
Mason Greenwood, Ben Godfrey, Jesse Lingard, Aaron Ramsdale, James Ward-Prowse, Ollie Watkins, Ben White not in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020; England begin their Euros campaign against Croatia on June 13
Southgate had named a 33-man provisional squad last week as he waited on several key players nursing injuries but seven players were cut on UEFA's squad deadline day of June 1.
Mason Greenwood, Ben Godfrey, Jesse Lingard, Aaron Ramsdale, James Ward-Prowse, Ollie Watkins, Ben White were not in Southgate's England squad, but Bukayo Saka, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson made it.
Here, former England and Arsenal striker Alan Smith gives his verdict on the announcement, and picks his XI for the opening clash against Croatia on June 13 at Wembley.
England's 26-man squad for Euro 2020
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
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Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Man City).
Saka raw? Not as a footballer
Bukayo Saka deserves to be in, given how he's performed for a poor Arsenal team at times. He has shown a lot of maturity, and a lot of versatility. That versatility has definitely helped him.
He might have been on the borderline, with Jesse Lingard missing out, but I'm glad to see him in. He's a player England will be able to use for many years to come. It is invaluable experience just to be within a camp in a tournament like this, and he will learn an awful lot.
People say he's raw, but as a footballer I don't think he is. He understands the game so well. His strengths are certainly going forward, and when he does, he has this fantastic ability to make the right decision and pick the right man out, and he's strong on both sides.
Defensively, he has played at full-back and wing-back, and still has a lot to learn on the defensive side, but he is a great talent.
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