Roy Hodgson’s initial 26-man Euro squad has been revealed, and the big surprise was the inclusion of Manchester United’s 18-year-old centre forward, Marcus Rashford, at the expense of the experienced Jermain Defoe.
Defoe’s fifteen league goals have undoubtedly kept Sunderland in the top flight. He has proved time and time again that he can be relied on to hit the back of the net, often in important games. Rashford’s eight goals in seventeen games this season is impressive, but he is unproven at international level.
Jermain Defoe Deserved to Go
England have a chance of doing well at the European Championship this time around. Whether they can gel as a team remains to be seen but for once, England can justifiably be cautiously optimistic. So it seems strange to take such a huge gamble on a young striker with someone as reliable as Defoe waiting in the wings. It’s understandable that Hodgson is trying to give youth a chance, but a bit of experience coming off the bench could prove invaluable in a tight game.
It seems like Roy is using the championships as an opportunity to build experience, when many (including Hodgson himself) think the side has a chance this year.
Gambles like this have been seen in the past, and they haven’t paid off. Remember Theo Walcott at the 2006 World Cup? The then 17-year-old striker didn’t even get a game. Rashford may have potential, but it’s likely that he will find himself in a similar situation. It seems strange to waste a spot on a striker who might not play a minute at the tournament.
The decision seems to stink of the old bias towards the so called ‘big clubs.’ Arguably, if Defoe had been playing for a side like Manchester United or Liverpool, rather than the unfashionable Sunderland, his inclusion would’ve been a foregone conclusion.
Hodgson may argue that Defoe is simply too old to be taken, but then he faces the obvious argument against Wayne Rooney. The England captain has not enjoyed a particularly brilliant season, scoring just eight league goals—half as many as Defoe—although many of his appearances have been from midfield.
It remains to be seen as to whether Rashford will make the final 23-man squad for the championships themselves. For Defoe, however, the dream is over. It’s likely too, that his international career is now over.
