Pundit Ade Oladipo has claimed that the hopes of Everton fans seeing Ben Godfrey at the Euros will be short-lived.
The defender received a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020, although the 33 inclusions will have to be whittled down to 26 for the final list of eligible participants.
Following an impressive spell at eventually relegated side Norwich City, Godfrey sealed a 2020 summer switch to the Toffees where he has cemented himself as a mainstay of Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Although adept at centre-back, he has frequently found himself deployed as a full-back on either flank – something Gareth Southgate admitted was factored into his thinking with Godfrey’s inclusion.
However, Oladipo has backed Godfrey to be one of the seven unlucky England hopefuls to be culled from the final list on the condition that Manchester United’s Harry Maguire returns to full fitness.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the pundit said:
“I’ll leave Ben Godfrey for a moment”, when asked who is omitted from the final squad.
“If [Harry] Maguire’s fit, Godfrey’s gone.”
Read Everton Verdict
The ultimatum is not one that Everton fans wanted to read about Godfrey – yet there is cause for optimism.
With 32 caps to his name, few would dispute that Maguire is a stalwart of Southgate England sides. It is simply no competition in Southgate’s mind between the uncapped Godfrey and mainstay Maguire.
Yet Godfrey’s sheer versatility – and Southgate’s acknowledgement of it – is a boon to England’s arsenal.
In his press conference, other players such as Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold were also picked out for their versatility, enabling Southgate to economise his squad selection.
Being able to play all across a back line with a proven record of playing regularly in all three positions is therefore a key differential that could strengthen the case for Godfrey’s retention over other options.
