Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah was the unlucky 27th man for England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Quansah has had a remarkable rise over the past 12 months, going from League One to the senior national team set-up.
Few would have expected this season to go the way it has for the Liverpool academy graduate. Quansah is now a fully-fledged member of the the senior Liverpool squad, as well as being in the thoughts of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Nevertheless, having been called up for the Three Lions’ pre-Euro 2024 squad, Quansah will have been determined to force his way into the final group.
Ultimately, that always felt unlikely to happen and the 21-year-old will be back at the AXA Training Centre on day one of pre-season under Arne Slot. Having said that, England legend Wayne Rooney believes Quansah has every right to be disappointed.
Wayne Rooney shares Jarell Quansah observation
With England having lost Harry Maguire to injury, there was a slight opening for Quansah to get the chance to go to Germany.
Although that was not to be in the end – Southgate cut Quansah and Curtis Jones at the same time – the England boss still kept the Liverpool defender around for Friday’s game against Iceland.
That was obviously good news for Quansah. Not only did it suggest that he had been closer than the likes of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, it also meant that he might make his national team debut at Wembley.
In the end, that did not happen. England were dreadful against the team that dumped them out of Euro 2016, losing 1-0 on the night. Quansah remained on the bench throughout.
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Following the game, while the other 26 headed to Germany, the Liverpool man was bound for home. And speaking on The Overlap, Rooney claimed that Quansah had been mishandled by Southgate.
“That’s why I think Gareth should have sent them all home [after telling them they won’t be picked],” said the Man United icon.
“He kept Quansah there and I watched him after the game, I was on the side of the pitch doing TV, and I watched every player walk around the pitch after the game. As soon as the final whistle went Quansah goes in,” Rooney added.
“Straight away you have a split. He has probably seen nobody got injured, and I felt for him, as he was probably in having a shower and leaving and he was the only one there.
“I think Gareth should have said go home, if there is an injury be ready, and give them that 24 or 48 hours, if anyone gets injured I’ll call you, otherwise go on your holidays.”
Was Jarell Quansah mishandled by England?
From a Liverpool point of view, we’re not generally dispositioned to agree with Rooney. Rooney hates Liverpool FC with every fibre of his being.
However, on this occasion he’s absolutely right. There’s no way Quansah should have been at Wembley unless Southgate intended to play him.
Obviously, you can’t account for injuries and whatnot and had someone been forced off then Jarell would have been thanking the manager for keeping him around.
But after asking the youngster to stay, it would have been fair had Southgate thrown him on for some minutes at the end regardless.
It’s true that international caps should be earned and not simply handed out. But Quansah was there on merit and hard work. He should have had his moment.
There will likely be another time for Jarell, but that doesn’t go without saying. He has a right to be disappointed.