Gareth Southgate made a mistake in picking Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford for UEFA Euro 2024, says Glenn Hoddle

According to former professional footballer and manager Glenn Hoddle, England men’s national football team manager Gareth Southgate has made a mistake in picking Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford for UEFA Euro 2024.

Speaking on the In the Zone podcast, the former England manager had this to say to the current England manager over the omission of the 26-year-old United forward:

“I would have taken Marcus Rashford because I think he performs better for England than he does for Man United, and I think we need a bit of pace. They’ve got Anthony Gordon, who does have that pace but he doesn’t have experience.“

Hoddle on Rashford’s omission, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News

Rashford had a season to forget in 2023/24 as he followed up his 30-goal tally from the year before with one that did not even reach double figures. His poor performances have prompted reports suggesting Man United are willing to let him go this summer.

Gordon, on the other hand, had a productive season for Newcastle as they surged back into the Premier League after a hard start to their 2023/24 campaign. The 23-year-old started the season as a Euro U21 champion and finished it with more goals and assists than Rashford.

Southgate made no mistake

Southgate has been more aggressive than he’s been known for in picking England’s Euro 2024 squad this time round. Many of his former loyal players like Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, and Harry Maguire failed to make the final 26-man squad alongside Rashford.

One can argue for a couple of the aforementioned names that they could have been picked up, but that is not the case for Rashford, whose omission feels like an easy choice to make.

Suggesting at the start of this season that Rashford wouldn’t make the Euros squad would have been unimaginable. Such has been the poor form of the 26-year-old.

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But to provide a response for Mr. Hoddle’s claim: no, Southgate made no mistake in picking Gordon over Rashford. Gordon has been in better form in the same period, has produced more goals and assists, and offers a lot more industry off the ball than Rashford.