Gareth Southgate has named his England squad for the fixtures with Italy and Ukraine this month, as the Three Lions begin their qualification campaign for the 2024 European Championship.
England travel to face European champions Italy in Naples on March 23, before hosting Ukraine at Wembley three days later. Southgate’s side will be looking to exact revenge on Italy, following their defeat in the final of Euro 2020 and in the Nations League in September.
Southgate’s first squad since the World Cup in Qatar has included the uncapped Ivan Toney. The Brentford forward has scored 16 league goals this season and was called up to September’s Nations League squad, but has since been charged by the FA for breaching gambling rules.
Chelsea’s Reece James and Ben Chilwell return after missing the World Cup, though there’s no place for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold or Arsenal’s Ben White. Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling misses out through injury.
Southgate deliberated his future following England’s quarter-final exit to France last winter, but has decided to remain on and lead England to Euro 2024, which will be hosted in Germany.
England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders: Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, James Maddison, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney.
