Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is leading the list of footballers who have been left out of their national teams for the October international break despite being fit.
Form and fitness are the key factors behind a player’s selection for the national team. In this article, we are going to be looking at the top footballers who didn’t make the national squad despite being fit.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford missed out on Lee Carsley’s England squad for the October international break due to his slack in form at Manchester United.
The 26-year-old made his England debut in 2016 and has won 60 caps, scoring 17 goals. He has struggled in front of goals for United lately scoring just four goals in 11 outings with them.
Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian was one of the big names missing from Dorival Junior’s squad list for the October international break, even though he is fit.
The misfiring forward’s form with his club, Arsenal, might have contributed to his exclusion from the list. Gabriel Jesus is yet to find the back of the net in the ongoing season for Arsenal even after featuring eight times for them. The 27-year-old has been with the Brazil national team since 2016, scoring 19 goals in 64 games.
Ivan Toney out of England squad for October international break
Al-Ahli star Ivan Toney is another big name missing from the Three Lions books for the October international break.
The 28-year-old became a regular in the England men’s national team squad while at Brentford. His decision to move to Saudi Arabia might have influenced Lee Carsley to drop him from the squad, even though he has scored three goals in seven outings with his new team. The Englishman made his debut with the national team earlier in 2024. He has won six caps, scoring once.
James Maddison
Despite his immense talent, James Maddison has found game time with the England national team hard to come by, and that seems not to be stopping anytime soon.
The Tottenham Hotspur star made his debut with the national team back in 2018 but has featured just seven times with them, and has just one assist to show for his time with them.
England’s star-studded midfield, which is where Maddison operates, might be a key factor for his lack of game time. The likes of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden are all ahead of him in the pecking order. He hasn’t been in bad form for Ange Postecoglou’s side either, scoring three goals and assisting two in nine games so far this season.
Eberechi Eze
The Crystal Palace star has been a key player for his side this season. He has scored two goals and provided three assists in nine games for the Eagles, but would have to do a lot better if he’s to break into the Three Lions frontline that contains the likes of Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane. He made his debut with the national team back in 2023 and has featured nine times so far with them.
Moussa Diaby
Another player on this list who probably didn’t get selected because he decided to move to the Saudi pro league is Moussa Diaby.
Diaby switched to Saudi side Al-Ittihad from Aston Villa over the summer and has featured seven times for them. Although he has yet to score for his new club, he has provided seven assists. Also, he has been with the national team since 2021, winning 11 caps, but has yet to find the back of the net with them.
Douglas Luiz
Ex-Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz joins Gabriel Jesus on the list of Brazilian players left out of the national team for the October international break despite being fit.
His form might be a factor in this case. The 26-year-old hasn’t settled in too well at his new club, Juventus, following his switch from Aston Villa over the summer. He has featured eight times for the Bianconeris, but the majority of the appearances are off the bench, and he is yet to play a full 90 minutes at his new club. Also, he has yet to score an assist.
Castello Lukeba
RB Leipzig star Lukeba was absent from the France squad named by Didier Deschamps for the October international break.
The fullback hasn’t been in great form for his team so far this season and would need to do better if he is to break into France’s star-studded backline. He has made only one appearance for Les Blues.
Fikayo Tomori
The AC Milan star is another absentee on the England squad. He is not in great form so far.
The 23-year-old has been booked twice in nine games with the Rossoneri and hasn’t been as solid as he was in previous seasons. He would be looking to get back in form so he can add to his five caps and get his first national team goal.
Benjamin Pavard
Perhaps one of the shocking exceptions from the France national team squad is Benjamin Pavard.
The reasons why the Inter Milan fullback wasn’t called up aren’t clear. He has been in decent form with his club, registering one assist in seven outings with them. He has also been a regular name with the national team since making his debut back in 2017, winning 54 caps with five goals.
Aaron Ramsdale
The ex-Arsenal goalie has fallen down the pecking order in the national team in recent times. The likes of Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, and Dean Henderson have been preferred to the Southampton goalie.
His poor form might also be a factor in his exclusion. He has conceded 13 goals in just five games with Southampton since his switch from Arsenal over that summer. Ramsdale has featured for the Three Lions five times in the past, making his debut back in 2021.
