Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was not called by England manager Gareth Southgate in his 24-man squad ahead of next month’s Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark.
The squad was announced on Tuesday with notable names listed.
Saka was one of Arsenal’s best performers last season after emerging their highest assist provider.
The 18-year-old’s impressive performance saw him finish the campaign as the third best player at Arsenal last season.
Despite his brilliant campaign for the Gunners, Southgate did not consider him for a call up to the senior side.
The Emirates FA Cup winner qualifies to play for Nigeria as he is yet to feature for England in a competitive game at senior level.
Meanwhile, there are first call-ups for Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood and Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
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United’s skipper Harry Maguire who was arrested in Greece made the cut as well as Southampton striker Danny Ings and Dean Henderson who was on loan to Sheffield United from the Red Devils.
Tottenham Hotspur skipper Harry Kane has been selected despite having been in quarantine following a trip to the Bahamas.
Midfielder Jack Grealish, who helped Aston Villa retain their Premier League status last season, has not been included in the 24-man squad.
Forward Raheem Sterling has been picked along with his Manchester City team-mate Kyle Walker, who is recalled.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Leicester duo Ben Chilwell and James Maddison miss out through injury.
England face their Euro 2016 conquerors Iceland in Reykjavik on 5 September before playing Denmark in Copenhagen three days later.
The disruption caused to the football calendar by coronavirus, including Euro 2020 being delayed by a year until 2021, means England have not played since November 2019, when a 4-0 win in Kosovo concluded their Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier, Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse, Harry Winks
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Mason Greenwood, Danny Ings, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling
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31 Comments
Very Good, hopefully he will make Rohr list.
Saka shine yah eyes, look at what is happening to Tomori, shine yah eye!!!!!
Any link to watch Tirana vs crvena live
Arise o compatriots…..Ndubuisi Egbo’s call obey…! Here’s a link to Tirana’s UCL qualifier
http://www.livetotal.tv/c/football/champions-league-qualifying-second-round/25-08-2020/tirana-vs-crvena-zvezda/1/
Its midway into the 1st half and Tirana are currently matching Red Star pound for pound. Lets call on the gods to once again smile on our brother tonight…!
And it ends 0-1 after 90mins.
Kudos to Egbo and his wards. They came, they saw and they will be back again.
From a coaching perspective I wasnt disappointed in any way. This Tirana team showed some hardwork is being done on them. Just keep working hard as you’ve been doing coach….the sky is your starting point.
Hmmmmm, guess tirana met there superior. Where are all those making noise that he would be a good assistant. Why didn’t he win today. Even Nigerian coaches with CAF licence would have done better.
How stupid a comment. Even the best coaches in the world lose matches. Can u countt the number of times u have fallen in your life? If you can, then you’d discover that you are no better than him. What is your point? Pls do not cine here and make stupid comments.
Call the comment what you like, will not waste time giving you un-deserve attention. You were making it sound has if with his UEFA Certificate he can beat any team that comes his way. making him almighty coach from Africa.
So it is your jobless Twitter Guadiolas who have won nothing in their coaching careers and who cannot get jobs even in Benin Republic that we should call Almighty and make noise about….? LMAO
Ndubisi Egbo still remains till date the first black coach to win a league title in Europe and lead a team into the UCL….till another black man does that, he remains the almighty coach from Africa…..deal with that….LMAO
Hahahaha…..i hope your brain was aware when your fingers were typing this nonsense. Your Nigerian coaches that can do better cannot even get coaching jobs in Benin Republic there at our backyard not to talk of europe…LMAO.
Why didn’t he win today…it’s the same reason why tuchel didn’t win on Sunday….the same reason why Conte didn’t win last Friday….the same reason why even the greatest coaches lose matches.
Red star Belgrade were European champions as recently as 1991….they are a massive team with a massive history. That a club like Tirana from Albania can hold them by the jugular only to loose so painfully is a huge feat by every means.
Tell your Nigerian coaches to with CAF license to beat the likes of Asante Kotoko and TP Mazembe and reach group & latter stages of CAF CL regularly first….before even dreaming of “doing better” coaching in the UEFA CL.
Will assume you almost shit in your pants when Tirana were being shown how to play soccer. When you were screaming here, making your almighty Guardiola unbeatable. Spare us all your excuses, and stop bringing data from 19 years ago. Less fancied teams have made it to the qualifiers of the UEFA champions league.
I just want to make it clear to you that the term “stupid” is not an abuse but a term used to describe the irrationality of one’s actions or mode of reasoning and this best describes u. For you to to say that we said he was invincible is very stupid for an adult like you and for you not to appreciate, commend or give a part on the back of your brother (not a fellow african) for the giant strides he’s has made in Europe where many including our african twitter guardiaola couldn’t excel in is wickedness. Wickedness of the highest order garnished with stupidity and jealousy (a very bad mix). Common sense should tell u that it is normal for any coach (no matter how good he is) to lose a match. The psg coach that lost to bayarn in the champions league finals is one of the best coaches in the world but he lost to a better side. But he didn’t lose everything. He gained in experience and achievements which are 2 remarkable things that can’t be purchased with money and so it is with our dear brother @Egbo. His achievements can never be stricken from the history books of world football and his experience would make him a much better coach. While other jobless self acclaimed world best coaches (african guardiolas) would be roaming around the streets looking for easy prey jobs, he’ll be out there making giant strides and beefing up his cv. He has positioned himself to continue from rohr whenever his assignment is done
Are you composing your own dictionary. No one cares about your story telling sir. Kindly look for another career to keep you busy.
I am appealing to someone else to watch the match and come back and tell us which team pegged who. Maybe the last minute of the match when they were desperate for an equalizer. Please don’t come here and give us false news.
hahahaha, my guy mr Egbo is a good coach doesnt mean he can not lose match. after all the serbia side is a far bigger than tirana as a club. jose and guadiola with their star made teams. lost to leipsig and lyon, does it take their previouse titles from them? the answer is no
Yes i know that my brother, but the noise making about him really turned me off. They made it seems with the UEFA licence he can conquer every team that comes before him. At least he is the best African Guardiola, his european version got to the semi-finals before being defeated, is it not the same Uefa course they went for. The last Afcon, a local african coach won the cup and defeated those they claim have UEFA licence
Hahahaha….tell his European version to go and coach Tirana in Albania to the semi finals of the champions league first since he is the best coach that ever lived…LMAO. His European version has not reached the finals of UCL since he left Barcelona because he doesn’t have players of the quality of the Messis, Xavis and Iniestas of this world. Every coach also needs quality players to succeed.
Red star Belgrade are a team of far greater pedigree and quality than Tirana. The fact that Tirana gave them a shock of their lives by holding them by the jugular despite their obvious inferiority is a testament to the quality of coaching they have received. If e too pain you say we celebrate our own record making 1st black man to win a league title and lead a team to the UCL…pls go stand for front of trailer for express…..LMAO
Excuses. Why didn’t he ask for funds to upgrade his squad like that of barcelona
saka and eze will join us by the grace of God. they will join us conquer qater in 2022. with the inclusion of ejiara and ejuke to.our current members meeeeeehn my head is getting bigger and bigger every day over our players. i cant wait to see them play anybody. infact iya la iya anybody
Hopefully he chooses Nigeria on time. Tomori will be conspicuously licking his wounds now.
Southgate’s defence consists of 5 center backs and 3 right backs. No left back!
With 5 center backs, he is likely thinking about playing 3 center backs in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation. Saka would have been perfect for this, playing in a left wing back role! With Saka’s performance last season, no coach in their right mind will ignore him. I think Southgate probably approached Saka, and Saka has informed him that he has chosen to play for Nigeria. That is a scenario that perhaps contributed to the gaping absence of a left back in Southgate’s squad. Southgate may have thought it was a foregone conclusion that Saka will accept his invite. Saka’s rejection has left him in a bind, and there is no time for him to come up with a suitable replacement. This is what is going on here, I think.
It is possible that Southgate will deploy Phil Foden as an emergency left back.
Over to you, coach Rohr. Select this boy, and let us put this issue to bed!
You are spot-on.!! Saka politely rejected the invitation. I hope Aina, Iwobi, and Ejaria can talk to him..
https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2020/08/26/reports-saka-asked-to-be-left-out-of-england-squad-following-talks-with-nff/
Thanks for the link, Larry. Saka is obviously interested in becoming a Super Eagle. We hope for the best.
Spot on @pompei, I wonder who read this wonderful analysis of yours and disliked it.,….. Bad belle is bad…
Thanks, Oakfield. I look forward to seeing Saka dominating the left flank in a Super Eagles’ jersey. Osimhen and company go score goals taya!
Complete sports una don start again oo..Harry Maguire was dropped oo..he didn’t make d list n same with Jack grealish..pls u guys should give TRUTHFUL news abeg..
Dele Alli nko?
Hahaha him own don finished
Na like this Dele’s international career go take kaput? Just now now? For this early morning? So dem don use Dele finish, na troway na em remain? When I look at that midfield list, I don’t see any AM there that is better than the guy. If Foden and Mount are head and shoulders better, then we can understand. But they are not as good, or as experienced! So Dele is that dispensable? With several young English AMs coming up, lets’ hope Dele has not reached his last bus stop, as far as international football is concerned.
Saka should start reading the hand writing on the wall now. He was basically snubbed. Period!