England Faces Growing List of Withdrawals Ahead of Nations League Matches Against Greece and Republic of Ireland

England’s preparations for their upcoming Nations League matches against Greece, and the Republic of Ireland have suffered another setback as a ninth player has now withdrawn from the squad.

The latest absentee is Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been struggling with an injury since the start of the season. Despite his efforts to regain full fitness, Branthwaite has been unable to recover in time. He will return to his club, adding to a mounting list of England’s injured and unavailable players.

Jarrad Branthwaite’s Injury Woes

Branthwaite’s injury troubles have ultimately forced his withdrawal from the squad, leaving interim manager Lee Carsley with another vacancy to fill. The Everton centre-back was initially named in the squad but has failed to recover from the lingering issue. In response, Carsley has called up Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah to replace him, adding depth to the defence ahead of the important fixtures.

A Long List of Withdrawals

Branthwaite’s departure brings the total number of player withdrawals to nine, with many high-profile names pulling out earlier this week. The absentees include Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Levi Colwill, and Aaron Ramsdale. These withdrawals have significantly strained England’s squad ahead of the international matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Kane Voices Frustration Over Withdrawals

England captain Harry Kane has expressed frustration with the growing list of absentees. In an interview with ITV, Kane admitted his disappointment with the situation. He hinted that some players may have used the busy period in the season as an opportunity to withdraw from international duty.

Kane emphasized that representing England should be the top priority for players, above even their club commitments. Reflecting on the time under previous manager Gareth Southgate, Kane recalled that players were excited to join the national team camp and participate in international duty.

Although he acknowledged the unfortunate timing of this week’s withdrawals, Kane stressed that England’s interests should always come first.

England’s Focus Shifts to Greece

Despite the challenges, England is preparing for Thursday’s Nations League clash against Greece. After a 2-1 defeat to the Greeks at Wembley last month, the team will look to avenge that loss and regain momentum.

With several key players missing, Jarell Quansah, who has been training with the team in place of Branthwaite, will compete for a spot in the starting lineup. Quansah will face competition from Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis for a place in the defence.

As the team heads into this crucial match in Greece, they will focus on overcoming the injury setbacks and getting back on track to continue their Nations League campaign.