Everton: Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist make Jarrad Branthwaite Euro 2024 prediction live on air
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite will miss out on the England squad for Euro 2024 if he struggles in the Three Lions’ clash with Belgium, according to Jeff Stelling.
The Toffees centre-back could be set to win his first full international cap against Belgium on Tuesday (26 March) having failed to get off of Gareth Southgate’s bench in England’s defeat at the hands of Brazil.
While McCoist thinks Branthwaite is ahead of Lewis Dunk in Southgate’s current pecking order, Stelling has insisted that the Brighton defender’s experience may see him beat the Toffees centre-back this summer.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (26 March, 7:25) he said: “I think that Lewis Dunk gets in if Jarrad Branthwaite doesn’t have a great game tonight. I think he’s got one game to make his case.
“I think it depends completely on this evening. I’ve got a tick next to Branthwaite at the minute and Lewis Dunk I’ve put probably not, but he will with his experience if Branthwaite doesn’t perform this evening.”
McCoist agreed saying: “I’ve just written the exact same thing, but I’ve actually got Jarrad Branthwaite slightly ahead of Lewis Dunk. I think he’ll do alright, it’s a shame to say it all depends on how you get on in one game because I think that’s very unfair.
“I think he will go.”
Will Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite start for England against Belgium?
The discussions around Branthwaite’s future, both internationally and domestically, won’t be going anywhere between now and the end of the season and these recent talks will be ever-present until Southgate names his squad this summer.
Branthwaite has shown throughout the campaign so far that he is more than capable of playing week in and week out at the highest level, however, Southgate does tend to have his favourites and Dunk may be one of those players.
Tuesday night’s showdown with Belgium could be definitive as the 21-year-old needs to show Southgate that he is capable of playing at an international level. Belgium will be a tough opponent, but this is almost the perfect audition for the Everton defender.
Hopefully, Branthwaite will come through unscathed and boost his chances of selection this summer, but he will have to maintain his form over the coming months if he wants to beat Dunk to the 23-man squad.
In other Everton news, Alan Shearer has shared a fresh relegation prediction in a new Luton Town admission
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