Marcus Rashford's Euro 2024 Snub

A Wake-Up Call for the Manchester United Star

What Happened to Marcus Rashford? Why Man Utd Star isn't at Euro 2024?

International squad selections are usually a nightmare for players, as it can be a thing of joy or pain. When England announced their Euro 2024 squad, the omission of Rashford from the list  sent shockwaves through the English footballing community. Although there were whispers that this might be coming, going by how he struggled for form in the just concluded season (2023/2024).

As one of England’s top talents, his exclusion has left most people stunned. So what happened? Where did it all go wrong? In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons for Rashford’s exclusion and talk about the impact this exclusion could have on his career.
 

Before going back to the Rashford story, if you are a football fan looking for a way to unwind while waiting for the return of the new season, one of the ways to go is to play online casino games. The good news is that some of these games are now available to play for free. If you are at least learn what online casinos are and read online reviews about them, you can visit a website like Slotsjudge to learn more about the best slots with no wagering to play right now.

Rashford’s Struggles at Manchester United
It’s no news that Rashford struggled at Manchester United throughout the just concluded 2023/24 season. This issue however, has plagued him, as he was excluded from England's Euro 2024 squad. The major factors that could be blamed was his lack of goals and really poor form, as he was only able to bag 8 goals and 5 assists. This is in contrast to the previous season where he was on fire and pulled a 30 goal haul.
We can’t also forget to consider Rashford’s relationship with Manchester United gaffer, Erik ten Hag, which was kind of sore at some point. With both parties throwing shades at each other as United struggled to gain ground in their matches. The United manager had this to say at the time, “Rashford and I know the reason for his poor season.”

Reasons for Rashford's Exclusion from England's Euro Squad
Asides the fact that Rashford had a terrible season, the emergence of a new crop of bright English youngsters this season played a significant role in his exclusion. We all saw the impressive run by Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and everyone knew that young lad had to be on the plane to the Euros. Palmer’s impressive performance last season instantly made him a great pick for the Three Lions, as he would provide another avenue for winning matches. This choice was obviously going to push Rashford down the pecking order.

Also, on the Blue side of Manchester, another young lad, Phil Foden was tearing apart defences and offering a similar option to what Rashford does for England. His deployment to the left wing, his versatility, and ability to come up with crucial goals meant Rashford would have needed a miracu;ous run towards the end of the campaign to stake a claim. Foden was so impressive all season for City, and his goals and assists won them the league. When you add the fact that the City midfielder won the Player of the Season, it was obvious that Southgate was going to include him.

Also, there’s the Newcastle sensation, Anthony Gordon. In fact, many believe he was the player who actually took Rashford’s spot. This young lad was in blistering form for the Magpies all season. While many critics think Gordon hasn’t really justified his inclusion in the squad (he has had less than five minutes of football action in the Euros), no one could fault the choice to pick him for the tournament.
Well, the man who made the decision, Gareth Southgate was also clear in his response on Rashford’s exclusion from the team. He stated that the United man had a poor season and wasn’t in great form and fitness. In an interview, the England boss said, “These are difficult calls. With Marcus, I just feel other players in that area have had better seasons. It’s as simple as that.’’
 

United or Not?
Now that England has progressed well in the Euros, having qualified for the final on Sunday, and a game away from lifting the title, would this exclusion be a setback for Rashford? It will definitely be a blow to the Macunian. This doesn't mean he won’t want Enghalnd to win, but going by the dedication he has to the national team over the years, he would have wanted to be at the forefront of the celebrations when a big international title finally ‘comes home.’

Despite this disappointment, the good news is that there’s still time for the Englishman, as he’s just 26, and will still get several chances to represent England if he can turn his form around. However, there is also the fear that this might be the beginning of the end for him as we have seen with many players who couldn’t recover after falling out of favor. He will probably know that a prolonged absence from the England squad could put a dent on his reputation as a top star, and we believe he will do everything to get back to the top.

Conclusion
Rashford’s exclusion from the Euro 2024 is a wake-up call for the United man. We believe this setback will be a wake up call for him and bring him back to the reality that there isn’t a spot set aside for him at the international stage unless he earns it. The question now is, would he allow this stint outside of the England squad to determine his career, or will he rise to the occasion and take his spot back? The clock is ticking!