Sport
5 England players who could miss Euro 2021
While there are undeniably some young English players who might benefit from the postponement of Euro 2020, what about those who could potentially miss out as a result of the delay? Here are five England players who could miss Euro 2021
Kieran Trippier
The 19 times capped right back was one of England’s heroes in the 2018 World Cup. Following a transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid, he has also helped Los Colchoneros to the second meanest defensive record in La Liga this season, with just 21 goals conceded in 27 games.
However, although Gareth Southgate clearly likes Trippier, by next summer he could become a victim of the right back position becoming absurdly well stocked for England.
Southgate is blessed with an embarrassment of riches in the position and, if he is now considering slowly pushing Trippier out of the exit door, a fate that has befallen his positional rival Kyle Walker, Southgate has multiple options available.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to be first choice going forward, the Liverpool youngster is arguably the finest attacking right back in the world at the moment and possibly England’s best crosser of a ball since David Beckham.
Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another option. The former-Palace graduate is possibly the best tackler in the Premier League and has made the second most successful challenges in the division this season.
Lastly, if Southgate wanted a more balanced player in the position he could call upon Chelsea’s Reece James who has emerged with some brilliant performances this season and, although perhaps not as good in an attacking sense as Alexander-Arnold, or defensively as Wan-Bissaka, is a perfect mix of both.
Danny Rose
It is a shame that none of those right backs can play on the left. England aren’t quite as blessed on the opposite side of the field but, despite a comparative lack of options, Danny Rose could yet find himself in the international wilderness come next summer and become one of the England players who could miss Euro 2021.
Just like Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker before him, the wing back has left Spurs to pursue a new challenge. However, while Atletico Madrid and Manchester City were deemed as a step up for that pair, Rose’s underwhelming loan spell at Newcastle has suggested a career on the wane.
He has still made recent England squads but Leicester’s Ben Chilwell is undoubtedly now first choice in the position and serious competition for the supporting role has emerged in Arsenal’s 18-year-old starlet Bukayo Saka.
A natural winger, Saka was thrust into the limelight this season after Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac were both injured. He has stepped up brilliantly. Whether he returns to the wing once Tierney recovers is yet to be seen, however Southgate will certainly like the fact that he can play in more than one position.
Luke Shaw remains another option at left back and, at just 24, has time on his side if he can keep hit fitness and injuries under control.
Tammy Abraham
The decision to delay the Euros comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Tammy Abraham, who has had the season of his life and been a key beneficiary of Chelsea’s transfer ban last summer.
With The Blues unable to sign a striker, Abraham became first choice by default under Frank Lampard who didn’t fancy his other options, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi, very much.
Abraham started the season brilliantly, scoring eight times in the first eight games to earn the first of four England calls. Since that blistering run though, the goals haven’t flowed quite as easily. He has netted a further five in Chelsea’s following 21 games, albeit missing two through injury.
With Harry Kane injured and this season’s top scoring Englishman, Jamie Vardy, retired, Abraham had the best claim to be England’s number one this summer. However, barring serious misfortune, Kane will be back to captain England in Euro 2021. Marcus Rashford, if fit, is also guaranteed to be in that squad
Whereas Abraham’s form has slightly petered out, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Greenwood have been in sparkling form in the second half of the season. Greenwood, at the tender age of 18, has already scored 12 Manchester United goals and Ole Gunnar Solkjaer had lauded his finishing ability. Calvert-Lewin has come to life under Carlo Ancelotti and has scored 8 goals in his last 11 Premier League games.
Chelsea are set to sign at least one additional striker this summer and Abraham could suddenly have a real fight on his hands for club and country.
Mason Mount
Abraham’s Chelsea team-mate has had a similar campaign. Put into the side by Lampard who was already a fan, having managed him at Derby, Mount has an unbelievable start to the season before tailing off. However, if he’s not careful he could be one of the England players who could miss Euro 2021.
He came back into some form before the football was curtailed but attacking midfield is another position in which England suddenly have some interesting options in the shape of James Maddison and Jack Grealish, not to mention the already established Dele Alli.
Gareth Southgate doesn’t often utilise a central attacking midfielder, especially when employing a 4-3-3 system, instead opting for two wide forwards who support the central striker.
Dele Alli has found this to his cost, having failed to achieve a call up since last summer’s Nations League finals. However, after a strong season under Jose Mourinho he will now be back under consideration.
The noise to give James Maddison and Jack Grealish a fair chance, especially the latter, has become deafening in recent months and you can expect both to play a part for England before next summer. Whoever wins this four way dog fight could rest on who makes the most of their chance when it comes.
Ross Barkley
The third Chelsea player on the list and arguably the most vulnerable to becoming one of the England players who could miss Euro 2021.
Once heralded as the saviour of English football, Barkley’s career has stagnated somewhat since moving to Chelsea. He has made 13 league appearances for The Blues this season including just eight starts and he now seems to have been leapfrogged in the pecking order by the sensational Billy Gilmour as well.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson can expect to be the first choice in the centre of midfield after captaining The Reds so brilliantly in recent seasons. His teammate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, should also make the squad if he avoids another injury plagued season.
An uncapped option will be Phil Foden who, if finally given a fair crack of the whip at Manchester City, will undeniably be in contention as well
There is also the looming threat of Ruben Loftus-Cheek who had played so brilliantly for England previously and would have amassed many more caps already were he not so injury prone.
If all of these players remain fit and healthy, Ross Barkley will undoubtedly need game time to make his own case for Euro 2021 and that could require a transfer.
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