England will be deprived of three elements next Thursday against Italy. Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope have withdrawn from the first two games of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
And the France team has to do with some last minute cancellations, the other footballing nations are not spared. For England, the blow is even harsh since it is one of its best players who has confirmed his absence to face Italy (March 23 and Ukraine (March 26), as part of the qualifications for Euro 2024. Injured this weekend with Manchester United, Marcus Rashford withdrew.
Very bad news for England coach Gareth Southgate, who hoped to have his best assets in hand when facing an Italy team that the Three Lions have not beaten for more than ten years. And this is not the only hitch in the plan of the tactician since Mason Mount has also forfeited, he who has not played since the beginning of March due to pain in the pubic bone.
An update from the #ThreeLions camp, with three players not reporting and Fraser Forster joining the squad…
— England (@England) March 20, 2023
Only one digital replacement
And like never two without three, Nick Pope will also be absent from the gathering. Unlike the first two injured, the Newcastle goalkeeper will be replaced numerically in Southgate’s list since Fraser Forster has been called up in his place.
