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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

Why Jadon Sancho was left out of England squad for Croatia amid Liverpool transfer rumours

Jadon Sancho has been left out of the England squad to face Croatia.

Liverpool have been tentatively linked with the Borussia Dortmund forward for the past year or so, who is regarded as one of the brightest talents in Europe.

However, Manchester United are the club thought to be at the front of the queue to sign Sancho, who scored 16 goals and provided 20 assists last season.

It has been reported that Sancho could be allowed to leave Dortmund this summer should a suitable offer come in, with a fee in excess of £80m thought to be needed.

England boss Gareth Southgate has decided to leave Sancho out of his matchday squad for their Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.

Southgate picked a 26-man squad for the tournament, but managers are only allowed to pick 23 for a squad for each match.

Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire are the other two players to miss out.

Southgate explained: "With the two boys that are out of the squad, it’s just unfortunate we can only name 23 and we’ve had to cover certain positions.

"I don’t like the fact we’re having to leave players out of the squad in a major tournament."

Two goalkeepers - Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone - are on the bench, but that will be a regular sight during this tournament.

As The Athletic explain: "When it was announced that national team managers could pick a 26-man squad for this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament, it remained a requirement that three goalkeepers had to be included in the match-day squad, which is only 23 players strong."

Jordan Pickford starts in goal for the Three Lions, with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Tyrone Mings and Kieran Trippier making up the back four.

Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips start in midfield, with Mason Mount playing behind a front three of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Rice, Phillips; Sterling, Mount, Foden; Kane.

Croatia XI: Livakovi; Vrsaljko, Vida, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic; Rebic, Perisic, Kramaric.

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