Paul Merson thinks Raheem Sterling has a small chance of being part of the England team for Euro 2024 this summer.
Gareth Southgate’s team are currently getting ready for the upcoming matches against Brazil and Belgium where players will be striving to demonstrate why they deserve to go to Germany.
A number of new players are in the squad including Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrad Branthwaite, while there were some notable exclusions like Ben White.
Sterling was also not chosen, something that would have been hard to imagine just two years ago when he was a key player for the Three Lions.
The forward was selected for the Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament after leading England to the final, but his reputation has dropped significantly since leaving Manchester City for Chelsea in 2022.
Although he has scored eight goals and provided 10 assists in 36 games so far this season, his performances haven’t been great, with the 29-year-old enduring one of the worst games of his career in last weekend’s FA Cup win over Leicester.
Former Arsenal and England star Merson believes it’s too late for Sterling to change things around, writing in his Sky Sports column: ‘Euro 2024 has chosen Raheem Sterling now.
‘He’s going through a tough time as a forward where everything goes wrong. The more you try, the worse it gets.
‘It’s about confidence. There's immense pressure at Chelsea and the fans are critical of him.
‘He could have scored three goals the other day and we’d be here now wondering why he's not in the squad? Instead, we’re thinking how has he earned that many caps? That's how quickly football changes.
Up Next
‘When Sterling is in top form, he's unstoppable and he delivers in major tournaments. I don’t know if Southgate has made up his mind about him, but I don’t see him at the Euros. It's difficult to make a case for him after the weekend.’
So far, Sterling has scored 20 goals in 82 appearances for England and has been part of the Three Lions squad for every major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, but he has not played since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Southgate’s squad for this summer’s Euros is not finalized, with various forwards in contention, and Merson adds that Sterling’s absence has made life somewhat easier for the manager.
He said: ‘Jarrod Bowen can play in three or four positions across the frontline. I admire him, he’s a dream for the manager and gives his all, but he might just miss out on the Euros squad.
‘He’s unlucky, but Southgate has so many options. He would have been worried if Sterling was performing exceptionally well. Some players will be left disappointed this summer.’
.
.
