Jadon Sancho has run out of time to win a Euros recall.
Manchester United winger Sancho has impressed and shown signs that he is getting back to his best during his loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. But despite earning plaudits for his latest starring role for Dortmund in their 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, it is set to come too late to force his way back into the England reckoning this summer.
Sancho, 24, has not won an England cap since October 2021 and now faces a new wave of competition for places in the wide areas. Furthermore, England boss Gareth Southgate has always been reluctant to spring any late surprises during his time in charge and it is hard to see a way back for Sancho at this stage.
Sancho has won 23 caps and was seen as a huge talent and was part of the England squad which reached the Euros final in 2021. But his drop in form after his £73million move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 led to him losing his place in the England set-up.
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Dortmund have welcomed Sancho back with open arms, but there have been question marks over his time-keeping and attitude in the past. The ex-Manchester City starlet also finds himself behind Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Jarrod Bowen, Marcus Rashford, Cole Palmer and James Maddison.
Southgate will be allowed to name a 26-man squad for the Euros this summer but, even with the extra three places, it has come too late for Sancho. Sancho’s form fell off a cliff during his time at Old Trafford and United have loaned him to Dortmund but there appears no way back and the club are willing to sell.
That comes after Sancho refused to apologise to United boss Erik ten Hag after a spat on social media when he accused his manager of lying over the reasons behind his absence from the squad. However, Sancho caught the eye during Dortmund’s 1-0 win over PSG on Wednesday and was quizzed in a TV interview after the game about whether he still believed he could get back into the England squad for the Euros.
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“I’m taking it game by game,” Sancho said in a diplomatic reply. But while his performances will surely warrant a recall in the long term, his return to form and favour have come too late for this summer.
Sancho at his best is a stylish, impish and creative player who can dribble, set up chances and create havoc. He made his reputation with Dortmund and is now back there trying to get his career back on track.
He is the epitome of the modern winger. His decision-making, passing and creativity plus assists, goals and dribbles make his stats outstanding. Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero claimed it was Sancho’s “destiny” to return to United and that may happen unless United lower their valuation because Dortmund are unlikely to pay over £40m. But it leaves Sancho with an uncertain future and that is another reason why he will struggle to make the cut when Southgate names his squad for the Euros on May 21.
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