Twitter reacts to England's Euro 2016 squad announcement
England manager Roy Hodgson announced his final 23-man Euro 2016 roster Tuesday, with Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford making the cut at the expense of Leicester City midfielder Daniel Drinkwater and Tottenham winger Andros Townsend.
Opinions would have been shared no matter who was included or excluded from the Three Lions' team, so here's how Twitter reacted to the final squad:
Exciting quintet of strikers but only 8 of England's outfield 20 are defensive by nature. Thin at centre-back and deep midfield. Dice roll.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) May 31, 2016
Just like the provisional squad, no outrageous omissions from Hodgson, no major complaints, it's unbalanced, but plays to strengths @England
— Jack Rathborn (@JackRathborn) May 31, 2016
Groundhog Day for England at a tournament beckons. Big names in regardless of form, half fit players & square pegs round holes.
— Joanne Whitham (@JoanneHearne) May 31, 2016
It's not as exciting but a team with Carroll and Defoe would be more dynamic and threatening than that England squad.
— Jeremy Tod (@KicksFromAfar) May 31, 2016
Lallana, Milner, Henderson, Sturridge and Sterling went from average players to England stars under my guidance
— Deluded Brendan (@DeludedBrendan) May 31, 2016
I hope they're grateful
Rashford's inclusion, at only 18 years of age, drew both optimism and scorn:
Rashford in 4 months:
— Man Utd Update (@MufcDevilUpdate) May 31, 2016
United U18's✔
United U19's✔
United U21's✔
United's first team✔
England✔
Euro 2016✔pic.twitter.com/v8kgxSkS2z
Danny Drinkwater has been hard done by, Rashford is too young to go to the Euros!! #EURO2016
— josh (@joshcrabbers7) May 31, 2016
Mark my words, Rashford is going to be a STAR!
— staaaanly. (@_seamXO) May 31, 2016
Drinkwater and Townsend's exclusions left some fans puzzled, since the former was vital to the Foxes' Premier League triumph, and the latter was much-improved at Newcastle, despite the club being relegated:
When you win the league by 10 points but the manager of England doesn't think you're good enough. pic.twitter.com/jlFqrqmexq
— Aaron (@AaronClavin) May 31, 2016
Disappointed to see Drinkwater and Townsend cut while we take BOTH Wilshere and Henderson , who can't possibly be match sharp.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) May 31, 2016
Absolutely gutted for @andros_townsend and @DannyDrinkwater. Let's hope the players he's shown faith in deliver. They owe it to you too 😔
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) May 31, 2016
Wilshere not completed a league game for Arsenal since September 2014. Drinkwater superb for Leicester all season. Work that one out.
— Stuart James (@StuartJamesGNM) May 31, 2016
I think England squad is good. I wish he'd taken Townsend as there's no natural winger. But he'd only have come on as a sub. Generally good.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) May 31, 2016
Henderson and Wilshere in squad of England.
— Evil Kagawa (@evilkagawa) May 31, 2016
Cuts Drink of water and takes five strikers.
Hodgson drunk no?!
Interestingly, does Townsend's omission bode well for him remaining at #NUFC? Out of the spotlight a little and closer to Benitez.
— Andrew Fowler (@FowlerAndy) May 31, 2016
Finally, Sturridge's inclusion drew a response, since the perennially-injured striker was dealing with a calf problem ahead of the tournament:
Didn't Roy say he'd pick players in form? Wilshere and Sturridge (both injured most of the season), ahead of Drinkwater and Noble? #England
— Chris Barnard (@Barnard999) May 31, 2016
Pissed off @DannyDrinkwater isn't in the squad yet they take injured players like Wilshere and Sturridge, there's no logic to Roy's pics????
— AsH (@ash_ck) May 31, 2016
Reports that Andros Townsend won't be going. However you perm it, he's a must for me, as is Daniel Sturridge, if calf holding up #euros2016
— John Stockbridge (@jstockbridge1) May 31, 2016