“Not just Harry [Kane], Raheem [Sterling] was crucial at the last Euros. We’ve shared that load a lot more across the forward line, people like Saka have weighed in with a lot of goals. You need those options for people to refresh the team and with the physical demands of a seven-game tournament.”

“I’m an idiot if I say no, but if I say yes it looks not a lot of work ahead. The players know it’s possible, they’ve won at club level and know what it takes. But in cup football you have to navigate game by game. Three (English) teams in the Champions League didn’t get to where they hoped because it’s fine margins – that’s our world. You have to deliver on those moments.”

There’s a new group again this time – here’s what the boss expects to see in Germany.

“Some of them might not be for England this summer, they might be for the future. It’s important to keep allowing that development to happen. We’ve evolved every tournament and the attributes each time are different. We’ve got a lot of difference from the last Euros and it’ll change again I’m sure.

“The group have a lot of important shared experiences on the pitch. Digging in for the last 20 minutes of the game is what helps you grow as a team – there’s a lot of tournament experience, it’s the third time for some of the young ones. We’re really happy where the squad is at and we have to grab the opportunities in front of us.”

Southgate speaks on injuries and whether some players will be cut before the official squad confirmation date: “We’ve had tournaments where we’ve taken [injured] players but thought they’d be back at a certain moment. We’re used to dealing with that and you take the best decisions you can.

“At the moment we can’t answer, certain pictures will emerge and anything could come out of the game. I like to give players as much clarity as possible.”

“As far as I’m aware he’s not available to us.”

Southgate on Henderson’s omission and the leadership group he was part of:

“We’ve moved away from a defined leadership group because we’ve got so many people who lead and have a voice. If you limit that it means others don’t step forward, they defer to a hierarchy. We’ve got so many good individuals and we want people to step forward, we encourage it.”

“He’s played very well for Bayern and they’re happy with him. He’s played well in big matches and we’re conscious of that but he’s just behind some of the others and we’ve assessed that across the board.”

On Foden and Gordon on the left:

“Anthony missed the last game with injury. Phil has played right and left, the key is where he ends up not his starting position. With City he’s allowed to drift and same with us. But then it’s about where they defend – Jude defends left wing for Real Madrid. So it’s where they arrive and where they can drift to is key – we never pin our forwards to the touchline, there is a freedom.”

England manager Gareth Southgate has named a 33-player training squad ahead of Euro 2024, with several big names left out of the European championships in Germany this summer.

Southgate will trim his squad to 26 players on Saturday 8 June, following friendly matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Newcastle and then Iceland at Wembley.

Led by Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden, the Three Lions will be among the favourites to go one step better than last time and win the Euros.

England reached the final three years ago, suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Italy on penalties in the Wembley final. Here, though, is a look at some of those who have missed out on the plane to Germany…

“He’s up against it. He’s missed a lot of football, the fact he’s our first-choice in that position we’re giving him longer than we might have done but I’m not sure what’s realistic at this time.

“We’ve talked, with him and the medical team, but I’d have to say he’s a long shot.”

“You’d like to have experienced players and we can still play in a way we have that. But we need to see the younger guys too, they’ve had good seasons and we feel they are the best right now to fulfill the roles we’re talking about.”

On positions and forwards:

“I wouldn’t be obsessed where they are listed. I write the names, these guys (the media team) write the positions. It would be easier to say forwards and backs and that’s it. There are opportunities for everybody and I’d say you can take too many forwards and too many options too. With forwards you’ve got to give them love, make them feel special – that can be complicated with too many!”

Gareth Southgate’s first words are on those omitted:

“These are difficult calls. You’re talking about very important players over a number of years. But other players have had better seasons than Marcus Rashford, it’s as simple as that.

“Henderson, we’re taking a longer squad with young players to look at as well. The detmining factor is the injury in the last camp, he’s missed five weeks and hasn’t been able to get to the intensity since then. He’s been so important and supportive in my time here.

“Ben [Chilwell], Marcus and Jordan were incredibly professional and considering the disappointment, they dealt with it well.”

Henderson, who was England vice-captain and who has won 81 caps, has not missed a major tournament since the 2010 World Cup but has had a difficult season, first joining Al-Ettifaq and then leaving after six months to sign for Ajax. Southgate had remained loyal to both the midfielder and forward Rashford as they have struggled at club level until taking the dramatic decision to drop both.

Gareth Southgate has confirmed an initial 33-man group, from which he’ll pick 26 players for England at Euro 2024:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford.

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton.

Forwards: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.

Gareth Southgate just a few minutes away from addressing the media and confirming those in…and out. And why there’s such a large group, perhaps.

Portugal named theirs earlier – a straight 26, no messing, all done bar late injuries.