England squad for Euro 2016: Roy Hodgson’s sure his young guns will bridge age gap in France

James Olley16 May 2016

Roy Hodgson could never be accused of failing to give youth a chance.

After Fabio Capello named the oldest squad at the 2010 World Cup, Hodgson has steadily steered England into a new era beyond the so‑called ‘Golden Generation’.

The average age of Hodgson’s squad has fallen with each tournament — this one at 24.8 years is exactly five years younger than Capello’s of 2010 — as young players are increasingly entrusted with the responsibility of ending England’s 50-year wait for tournament success.

That philosophy has created the most dramatic ascension yet in the shape of Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford, who only made his senior debut on February 25.

Hodgson insisted at Wembley this morning that Rashford was a “contender” but that “it won’t be easy to knock someone off their perch”, implying the 18-year-old faces a struggle to avoid being one of those to miss out when England reduce this 26-man group to 23 after facing Australia on May 27.

Regardless of whether Rashford travels to France, youth abounds throughout the squad. Michael Carrick, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines may have hoped an expanded long list such as the one named this morning afforded them one last chance to state their case but Hodgson preferred to opt for players such as John Stones, Danny Rose and Danny Drinkwater, all of whom were born in the 1990s.

Hodgson’s future as England manager will be determined by the success of his team at Euro 2016 but he has not been afraid to gamble. Selecting just seven defenders gives him precious little cover at centre-back — although it is also a reflection of the shortfall of quality in that area — but also indicates Hodgson wants as many attacking options as possible.

England Euro 2016 warm-up friendlies and group fixtures

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A lot is taken on trust. Rooney has 109 caps — twice more than anyone else (James Milner, 58, and Joe Hart, 57, come next) while nobody in the squad has scored more than five international goals aside from his captain.

But there are plenty selected on form — Andros Townsend was a world away from the England squad after being frozen out at Tottenham but his regeneration at Newcastle has been rewarded while Leicester’s Premier League success has been recognised by call-ups for Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy.

Form and youth have been prioritised over experience. The disappointment for Theo Walcott is that he must now prove he is not yesterday’s man aged 27. His form deserted him at Arsenal during a disappointing second half of the season that has led some to question his future at the club.

Ten years ago he was the shock call-up to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s 2006 World Cup squad having never played a top-flight game. He was a bundle of pace and potential. A decade later, he is yet to fully realise that potential. Time is against him.

ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL

Keepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), John Stones (Everton).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle United), Ross Barkley (Everton).

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool).

 

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