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Gareth Southgate admits he has a 'difficult decision' to make on his final Euro 2024 squad, after goalscorer Cole Palmer, standout star Ebere Eze and debutant Adam Wharton all caught the eye in England's 3-0 win against Bosnia

5 months ago 35
  • Gareth Southgate given selection headache after England's win over Bosnia 
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By Sami Mokbel

Published: 23:28 BST, 3 June 2024 | Updated: 23:56 BST, 3 June 2024

Gareth Southgate admits his fringe stars have given him a selection dilemma following England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia last night.

Cole Palmer scored his first international goal from the spot to add to the clamour for the Chelsea forward to be make the final 26 man squad for Euro 2024 that is announced on Saturday before Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane notched.

But Eberechi Eze, Conor Gallagher and Adam Wharton were among England’s peripheral players to have impressed on a positive night.


‘Of course, it’s a difficult decision for us,’ Southgate replied when asked whether the performances of his non-starters have sparked second thoughts ahead of his final squad announcement.

‘A team that didn’t have many caps when we started, it showed people feel comfortable in an England shirt pretty quickly which was lovely to see.

Gareth Southgate has some big calls to make after seeing his fringe players impress 

Eberechi Eze was one of the standout stars during England's 3-0 win over Bosnia Herzegovina 

Cole Palmer scored his first England goal in a impressive all-round showing from the forward 

‘It is a decision where we understand the significance for all of the players. So we are giving it the respect and consideration it deserves to make fair, right decisions.

‘Of course it is always going to be subjective and we have to balance what we need in every area of the pitch as well so that is the added complication.

'It is not just getting the best individuals in, there is a positional element to that as well. But we have really good options and we came through the game without any physical issues.

‘Clearly, I would imagine Eberechi has caught the eye with the way he started the game, the way he glides past people and the power he shows. Conor Gallagher was an important performance for us given how important Declan’s [Rice] role is.

'We know what he can do without the ball but his work with the ball has improved. He played with real maturity.

‘A first goal for Cole Palmer. He showed moments of what he is about. It was his first start for us and there is more to come as he feels more comfortable with the group and we feed him the ball as he needs it. 

'He can play in a couple of other position and has had a fabulous no reason he can’t he can’t have a big impact with us.

Southgate praised debutant Adam Wharton after a comfortable cameo at St James' Park 

Conor Gallagher made a claim for a midfield birth with a solid showing during the victory 

‘Adam Wharton showed what he has been doing at the end of the season and in training. He sees pictures early and can play forward. It is very early for him but lovely that he looked as comfortable as he did.’

On the his team’s over performance, the England boss added: ‘I’m pleased with the intensity of the game firstly, it was an important game in terms of the physical aspect and also to play against a back five which is what we could well play against in the first couple of matches.

'Needing to find solutions to that against a team who had a threat on the counter-attack so we had to be vigilant to the way we played.

'The scoreline reflected the performance, it was fair. Individual performances, there were numerous good ones.'

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