Six England players causing ‘real concerns’ for Gareth Southgate after Iceland defeat in final Euro 2024 warm-up game

England are heading into Euro 2024 as one of the favourites for the tournament in Germany. However, Dorsett believes the Three Lions are ill-prepared due to a number of different reasons, with the likes of Harry Kane, Luke Shaw, John Stones and Kieran Trippier coming off fresh injuries, while Jude Bellingham joined the side later than others due to Real Madrid’s trip to the Champions League final.

Dorsett believes the aforementioned players, along with Harry Maguire – who wasn’t named in England’s final 26-man squad owing to a calf injury – will be causing Southgate ‘real concerns’ as he prepared for the tournament.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the reporter said: “They look ill-prepared for this tournament. Not by the fault of the manager or any of the individual players, but in terms of injuries and the number of key players that are undercooked. They just haven’t simply played enough football in the build up to this tournament. Harry Kane is a case in point. He looks sluggish to me. He doesn’t look fully fit. Not a surprise owing to the fact that he’s missed the last three games of Bayern Munich’s season with a back problem. Looks to me like he hasn’t trained very much and that he’s still nursing that back problem. That’s a big worry because unless Harry Kane is fully firing, I don’t think England can win the Euros. Harry Maguire, another key player, not going to Germany at all because of that calf problem.

“John Stones is going to Germany but having been undercooked himself. One Premier League appearance since the middle of March. He desperately needed the game time. What happens? He picks up an ankle injury in the final warm-up game against Iceland. Luke Shaw hasn’t played any football since February. He might not be able to play any meaningful part until the knockout stages for England. Kieran Trippier, still building up his match sharpness. Jude Bellingham, joining up with the squad this weekend after being given some extra time off after the Champions League final. He looks a little bit tired to me, I think he’s gone a bit leggy in the last month or so for Real Madrid.

“These are key players for England. Players that England will rely on if they are to get to the latter stages of the tournament. And I think there are concerns about a great deal of many of them. Where they are right now, having had one win in their last five internationals, you have to say there are real concerns for Gareth Southgate.”

England still remain one of the favourites for the competition, but we might have to wait until the knockout rounds to see Southgate’s side in full flow. They will look to go one better than Euro 2020 when they lost in the final against Italy.

The Three Lions will begin their tournament with a clash against Serbia on Sunday, June 16 as they look to return to winning ways after their 1-0 friendly loss against Iceland.