Raheem Sterling has been a mainstay for England since his debut in 2012 and has 82 caps to his name. The 29-year-old has been one of Gareth Southgate’s favourite players during the manager’s tenure, but it seems like the tides could be shifting. Sterling hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup, and rumours suggest he may have fallen out of favour with Southgate.
England has a plethora of talented wingers available, making it harder than ever for Sterling to walk back into the team. Now, the Chelsea man must be worried that he won’t make the flight to Germany for Euro 2024.
England Among Favourites to Win Euro 2024
In the early sports betting markets for Euro 2024, bookies have listed England as the joint-favourites to win the competition alongside France. Now is the ideal time to stake on the event, as the odds are likely to get shorter once the tournament has started.
One of the main reasons why Southgate’s men are expected to go all the way is because they have the best attack out of all the European teams. Harry Kane is the most complete striker in the world, and he’s helped in the final third by other red-hot talents from Manchester City, Arsenal, and Real Madrid. The Three Lions are backed to win by pundits, even though Sterling has been out of the side. This highlights how strong the team is even without the Chelsea man.
Sterling No Longer Best in His Position
Southgate has always been loyal to Sterling, even when fans had been crying out for other players to be deployed on the wings in the last World Cup. The manager’s decision to bring on Sterling in the quarter-final defeat to France was one of the poorest of his tenure, with the player having missed the previous three matches and Marcus Rashford the in-form winger.
However, it’s clear now that the England boss is coming to realise that Sterling may no longer be the best in his position. The Three Lions are stacked with talent on the wings, with new players coming through every season. It’s going to be more difficult than ever for Sterling to make his case for inclusion in the summer competition.
Player Could Provide Vital Experience
Even though Sterling may not be the best attacker for England anymore, there’s still a strong argument that he should be selected for Euro 2024. The crafty winger has been in the international set-up for longer than most players and can be an excellent role model for some of the up-and-coming stars. Jordan Henderson has proven how vital it is to have veterans around, and Sterling falls into that bracket now as well. If England goes deep in the tournament, this kind of experience is priceless.
It would be unwise to bet against Sterling attending Euro 2024, but whether he’ll be a starter at the competition remains to be seen. England are stronger than ever in attack, meaning it could be hard for the Chelsea man to reclaim his starting berth.
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