Marcus Rashford will be watching Euro 2024 from afar (Image: Getty)
David Seaman has likened Marcus Rashford's omission from the Euro 2024 squad to Paul Gascoigne's 1998 World Cup snub, which marked the end of Gazza's England career.
Despite providing seven goals and three assists for Manchester United this season, Rashford's lacklustre form, coupled with United's disappointing eighth place finish - their worst since 1989/90 - left him on the fringes of Gareth Southgate's selection. With formidable competition from Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Anthony Gordon, Rashford failed to secure a spot in the preliminary 33 players selected for Germany.
Southgate, explaining his decision, said: "These are difficult calls. With Marcus I just feel other players in that area have had better seasons. It's as simple as that."
The decision took England legend David Seaman by surprise, who saw parallels with Glenn Hoddle leaving out Gascoigne during the 1998 World Cup in France, reports the Mirror. In his Betway Insider column, Seaman admitted: "The Rashford situation makes me think back to Glenn Hoddle leaving Paul Gascoigne out for the 1998 World Cup.
"The day started with the whole squad playing golf. I played with Gazza, Ian Walker and Phil Neville on that day, and none of them were in the squad, so I think I might have been the jinx!
"We all had our allotted times to see the manager, and when Gazza went in, I had no idea of what was going to happen. He found out he wasn't going and had a huge argument with Glen Hoddle. Gazza was so devastated, it was hard to pick him up and get him on the plane home.
David Seaman was shocked by Rashford's omission (Image: Getty)
"I'd never have imagined that would be the end of his England career. He wasn't always fit, but he was still so brilliant and always seemed to make an impact. Once the manager's made that call, though, it doesn't look good. It can happen in football you get left out once, and that's it, you're done."
Gazza was dropped in '98 due to fitness concerns as proclaimed by Hoddle, who later confessed the decision took a heavy emotional toll. Gateshead-born Gascoigne had been in impressiv form for Rangers for the three years prior, netting 30 goals in 74 games and remaining highly respected.
Seaman has faith that Rashford will bounce back into favour for the Three Lions despite his Euro 2024 absence. The ex-Gunners keeper stated: "We know he's a good player and he's not dealing with any kind of injuries, like Gazza was. We all knew that Gazza would produce a moment of magic, and I still feel that Rashford can do that."
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Gascoigne was famously left out of the 1998 World Cup squad (Image: Getty)
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The former England goalkeeper also expressed his disappointment over Marcus Rashford's current form at United, describing him as one of England's top talents. He said: "It's sad to see one of England's best players struggling, though, because everybody knows what Marcus is capable of.
"He's a proper professional, but his form's not there, and that's the puzzling part of it. People have suggested he could leave United, but if it was me, I would stay. They haven't had the best of seasons aside from winning the FA Cup, which is a real positive but it's a massive club.
"Clubs don't come much bigger, except maybe Real Madrid or Barcelona, but you don't join those clubs unless you're playing well. He needs to regain his form for United. It's been one season on, one season off for him, which means next season should be a good one!"
