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England confirm final squad for Nations League finals


Gareth Southgate’s England compete in the UEFA Nations League next month (Picture: Getty)

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been included in England’s final 23-man squad for the Nations League finals.

Kane has not played a competitive match since April 9 but is expected to be fit for next weekend’s Champions League final against Liverpool after recovering from injury.

The 25-year-old will then hope to help England win the UEFA Nations League, with Gareth Southgate’s side set to face Netherlands in the semi-finals on June 6.

Kane’s Tottenham team-mates Kieran Trippier and Harry Winks have been left out of the squad, along with Southampton duo Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse.



England’s Nations League finals squad

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Declan Rice (West Ham).

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth).

Southgate said: ‘We have got exciting players and picking a squad is really difficult because we have lots of depth of talent, not only the squad we have picked but the U21s as well.

‘There’s been some difficult decisions to make and we are obviously a little bit complicated with so many players involved in the Champions League as well but we are really excited by the squad and the players that are around it.

‘It’s similar to the preparation for the World Cup because people arrived at different times depending on whether they were finished at the end of the league season, played in the FA Cup or played in the Champions League. It was the same last year so we have got used to working with the group in that way.

‘And what is nice is you get another burst of energy as each group arrives – so today [Monday], Raheem, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jadon in for the first time.

‘Again, the training shifts up another level and everybody is excited to be back together and we will get that again next week when the rest of the team report as well.’

England will face one of Portugal or Switzerland in either a final or third place play-off on June 9.

Southgate added: ‘Some players who have had really good finishes to the season like James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond are staying with us for this period to train because although we have cut the squad to 23, we have still got two weeks to get through and two really big finals ahead.

‘So some of those calls are even more difficult. Harry Winks is a player we really like and that’s a tough one because he’s not played for a couple of months and we don’t get to see him in training.

‘He is back training with Spurs, he might be involved at the weekend but we wouldn’t see him until two days before the game.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been named in the squad (Picture: Getty)

‘So when we had other midfielders who are either with us or who are playing regularly, that was the only thinking behind that decision.

‘Harry could still come into that mix and has done very well for us whenever he has played with England, so is a player we like.

‘Of course, Kieran Trippier has had such a big impact, he had such a brilliant World Cup. He has been a really valuable member of our squad and has a great attitude with us, real passion in playing for England but Trent and Kyle have finished the season so strongly.

‘So it is a position where we have got real competition for places. That is as hard a decision as we have had to make.’





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