Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has voiced his concern regarding England’s attack for Euro 2024, suggesting that manager Gareth Southgate may have made a significant error by excluding Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford. Scholes’ comments reflect his apprehension about the lack of “tournament know-how” in the current squad.
Grealish, who was initially included in the provisional 33-man squad, was ultimately left out of the final 26 due to inconsistent form and fitness issues last season. Similarly, Rashford was omitted after a disappointing season with Manchester United, where he managed to score only eight goals across all competitions.
In a post on Instagram, Scholes shared his thoughts:
“Trying to make my mind up about this England squad, love him or hate [Maguire] will miss the experience of [Harry] Maguire defensively,” Scholes said on Instagram.
“LB [left-back] a big problem, major lack experience in mf [midfield] but [Declan] Rice is good enough to bring all together.
“Worried about forward line, obvs love [Phil] Foden/[Harry] Kane/[Bukayo] Saka…honestly think not having the major tournament know-how of Rashford and Grealish as backups (been there and done it) is a big mistake!!”
Scholes’ remarks highlight his belief that the experience of Rashford and Grealish in major tournaments could have been crucial for England’s success at Euro 2024. He points out the importance of seasoned players who have “been there and done it” in providing depth and resilience to the squad, especially in high-pressure situations.