England are preparing to begin their journey to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany next year, with Gareth Southgate naming three Reds in the squad for this month’s set of international fixtures.
Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford were all called up by Southgate but earlier this week, it was revealed that Rashford had pulled out of the squad due to an injury sustained in the 3-1 win over Fulham last weekend.
Rashford was England’s joint-top goalscorer at last year’s World Cup in Qatar but he will have to wait for his next goal for the Three Lions.
England begin their bid to make it to the tournament by making the trip to Naples to face Italy – a stunning replay of the dramatic Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw both started that final after being two of England’s most outstanding players in their run to the spectacle and roughly two years later, they have been named in the line-up again.
All set to face Italy! 👊 pic.twitter.com/L6lPsqeRvi
— England (@England) March 23, 2023
Victory over Roberto Mancini’s men, who will be motivated to make it to the tournament and give themselves the chance of defending their crown, would put England in a great position in their group.
Two teams from the five-nation group will secure qualification and regardless of the result, both sides will be favourites to make it to Germany ahead of Malta, Ukraine and North Macedonia.
England line-up (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Phillips, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Grealish, Kane
