We are just a matter of weeks away from finally finding out which of England’s most talented players have been picked to compete for their country at Euro 2024 this summer.
The squad announcement could take place any time after the conclusion of the Premier League season on 19th May, but will certainly happen well ahead of England’s warm-up games against Bosnia and Iceland on the 3rd and 7th of June, respectively. A 32-man squad will be named for the friendlies, before the squad gets whittled down to 26 men for the tournament, which kicks off on 14th June.
The selections are entirely in Gareth Southgate’s hands, but what does AI predict the 26-man squad will look like?
Football betting tips, predictions and news site, Footy Accumulators have tested artificial intelligence’s football management skills and asked a supercomputer to select England’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024. It certainly made some interesting calls.
The AI model was wise enough to make the more obvious selections, such as Harry Kane up top, Jude Bellingham in midfield, and Jordan Pickford between the sticks – all of whom will almost certainly be part of England’s Euros squad.
However, the AI completely snubbed a few star names – including young players that have been outstanding for their clubs this season such as Chelsea star boy Cole Palmer, and Manchester United sensation, Kobbie Mainoo. The bookies certainly disagree here, with Cole Palmer at 1/10 odds to be selected, and Kobbie Mainoo at 2/7.
However, the AI was not entirely against bringing young talent to Euro 2024 this summer, showing huge appreciation for Adam Wharton, the Crystal Palace midfielder, who was playing in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers as recently as January 2024.
There’s a similarly surprising pick for Conor Coady, who despite being a familiar face for the Three Lions in recent memory, has spent the entire 2023/24 season in the Championship with Leicester City – albeit winning the league with the Foxes.
There’s also a spot on the plane for Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott, who despite winning the U21’s Euros with the England U21 squad last year, has never been called up to the senior squad. Both players have selection odds of 7/2.
Familiar faces such as Jack Grealish and Jordan Henderson also failed to make the cut, while more peripheral figures like Anthony Gordon and James Maddison were also left in the cold by the AI.
Despite having selection odds of 20/1, Raheem Sterling makes the AI-selected England team, alongside West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Newcastle’s Callum Wilson. According to the bookies, Bowen has just over a 50% chance of being selected for the squad this summer, but the 12/1 odds on Callum Wilson’s selection make him an unlikely candidate.
Perhaps the most surprising of all the AI tool’s squad selections was Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, who has made just 3 starts in the Premier League all season.
Full 26-Man AI England Squad
Goalkeepers:
-
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
-
Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
-
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders:
-
John Stones (Manchester City)
-
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
-
Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
-
Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
-
Conor Coady (Leicester City)
-
Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool)
-
Reece James (Chelsea)
-
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
-
Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders:
-
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
-
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
-
Mason Mount (Manchester United)
-
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
-
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
-
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards:
-
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
-
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
-
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
-
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
-
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
-
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
-
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
-
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)
Would you take an AI football manager over Gareth Southgate this summer?