Southgate named Euros squad early to avoid 'mess'

Date: Friday, 7 June. Venue: Wembley Stadium. Time: 19:45 BST.

BBC coverage: Live power commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Live and matter commentary connected BBC Sport website and app.

England head Gareth Southgate says he named his Euro 2024 squad early truthful his players could support their "heads clear" and attraction connected Friday's crippled against Iceland.

Southgate has until Friday astatine 23:00 BST to corroborate his 26-man group, but named his squad connected Thursday, a time earlier his side's last warm-up match.

The England leader had primitively selected 33 players successful his shortlist, pinch goalkeeper James Trafford, defenders Jarrad Branthwaite, Harry Maguire and Jarell Quansah, midfielder Curtis Jones and forwards Jack Grealish and James Maddison missing out.

"I didn't want to support nan players waiting until Friday - that would person been a mess, really," Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It wouldn't person been adjacent connected nan players that we've released and wouldn't person been adjacent connected nan players that were waiting to person confirmation they were in."

Liverpool centre-back Quansah has remained pinch nan squad and could characteristic against Iceland astatine Wembley, but unless location are immoderate injuries nan 21-year-old will not beryllium going to Germany.

England hit Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 astatine St James' Park connected Monday and look an Iceland broadside that person not qualified for Euro 2024 after losing 2-1 to Ukraine successful a play-off successful March.

"Inevitably, we knew erstwhile we named a 33 location would beryllium a play of a bully prep camp, and past location were going to beryllium a mates of days wherever location would beryllium a batch of worry and difficult days," added Southgate.

"But now everybody's heads are clear, they tin look guardant to nan game, and erstwhile they travel backmost successful connected Sunday they tin really commencement looking guardant to nan tournament."

England mislaid 3-2 to Italy connected penalties successful nan last of Euro 2020 successful July 2021.

However, 3 years connected and this existent squad is without Maguire, Kalvin Phillips, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Grealish - who each featured successful that match.

Asked whether he had changed from remaining loyal to those who person served him good successful nan past to picking a squad of nan moment, Southgate replied: "I deliberation that loyalty is still there.

"It's an important portion of building a team, but besides you person sewage to prime nan players you deliberation will springiness you nan champion chance of winning. We person a batch of players pinch a batch of caps, a batch of tourney acquisition and immoderate owed to beingness issues aren't capable to present for us."

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).

Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Dropped from original 33-man shortlist: James Trafford (Burnley, goalkeeper), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton, defender), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool, defender), Harry Maguire (Manchester United, defender), Curtis Jones (Liverpool, midfielder), Jack Grealish (Manchester City, forward), James Maddison (Tottenham, forward).