Mark, Andover: The negativity surrounding the England squad amazes me! People are calling for in form players to be called like Murray and Dunk. International football isn't only about form it's about being able to play at that level too!

Jake S: Not sure why everyone is so angry about the squad. The starting 11 virtually picks itself (apart from the keeper), everyone is arguing over the fringe players of the squad - the fourth centre back etc.

Jeff, Maidenhead: Only England. Simultaneously hopeful and hopeless. Inclusions of Mawson, Tarkowski and Pope show genuine forward thinking. Inclusions of Hart ,Livermore and Welbeck are, to anyone who's seen these three play in 2018 (and not many have seen Hart play let's face it), simply incredulous. Livermore is average in a woeful side.

Sean Cole: If I wasn't a Burnley fan, that would be the most depressing England squad in a long time.

Trevor, Clitheroe: Surely for two friendlies we can pick a squad of players who have game time this season in the Premier League, why do we rely on players past their sell by date and injury prone!

Harry Kane's omission through injury has left a big hole in Gareth Southgate's squad a as a whole, never mind the options in attack.

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck has been recalled despite only making two Premier League starts since the turn of the year, with Swansea City's Tammy Abraham selected for the Under-21 squad having made his full international debut in November.

Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling were expected, but the decision not to call up Brighton's Glenn Murray is one to ponder.

"You never want any player to experience injury and of course Tottenham have some very big matches coming up. It's a disappointment for us not to have Harry with us," said England manager Gareth Southgate.

"We've had to cope without him and it's important we're able to cope without him because you never know what's going to happen in football."

Forwards:Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Wilshere's inclusion has divided opinion, while the selection of Bournemouth's Lewis Cook has been welcomed on all sides.

Wilshere has shown he has returned to form with Arsenal and can be a world beater on his day, but his previous injury record seems to be the main concern.

Cook has been in fine form for the Cherries this season and he is certainly in the 'one for the future' brakcet at 21 years old and this experience will only aid his development.

"Jack's a player with unquestionable talent. I have had to field lot of questions about him and the key for me now is he is playing the games that matter for Arsenal and playing well," said England manager Gareth Southgate.

"Physically we feel he is close to where he can get to and he is having a good influence on games."

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Dele Alli (both Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (all Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jake Livermore (West Brom)

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England manager Gareth Southgate has decided to omit a number of experienced players from his defence as Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling miss out, while Burnley's James Tarkowski is selected for the first time.

Southgate said it was "probably a very difficult call" to drop Cahill, who has captained England.

But the England boss said the Chelsea defender could win back favour before the World Cup, adding: "I think there are a few players not in this squad who are certainly not out of our mind."

Uncapped Alfie Mawson also wins a place in the squad alongside Liverpool's Joe Gomez.

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Alfie Mawson (Swansea)

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Southgate admitted the number one shirt this summer is still up for grabs...

Nick Pope's form for Burnley has been rewarded with a call-up to the national squad, while Joe Hart is included despite only one Premier League appearance since November.

Elsewhere, there is space for Stoke's Jack Butland and Everton's Jordan Pickford.

Butland was the man in goal for England's final qualifying game but it remains to be seen who will start on June 18th in Russia.

"Clearly the number one jersey is up for grabs," said England manager Gareth Southgate.

"Joe has had a difficult period with his club and he had to miss out on selection a few times when David Moyes came in.

"He's got a great number of caps and he's the most experienced keeper in our squad so we wanted to keep him around."

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (West Ham), Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo headlined the Portugal squad named on Thursday to face Egypt in Zurich on March 23 and the Netherlands in Geneva four days later.

The European Champions' coach Fernando Santos will have to do without central defender Pepe, but has called up 20-year-old Benfica defender Ruben Dias.

Portugal were third in FIFA's world rankings released on Thursday behind only Germany and Brazil with the World Cup in three months time.

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Sevilla forward Wissam Ben Yedder was called up by France for the first time on Thursday after his Champions League double against Manchester United earlier this week.

Ben Yedder struck twice at Old Trafford to send Sevilla through to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win against United on Tuesday.

The former Toulouse striker, 27, was included in Didier Deschamps’ squad for friendlies against Colombia on March 23 and in Russia against the World Cup hosts four days later.

France will play in Group C at the World Cup where they will face Australia, Peru and Denmark.

Image source, Getty Images

I think it's fair to say the reaction to Gareth Southgate's England squad has been mixed.

In case you missed it earlier, here it is again.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (West Ham), Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Alfie Mawson (Swansea)

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Dele Alli (both Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (all Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jake Livermore (West Brom)

Forwards:Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Jarratt: No Ryan Sessegnon? The kid has gone and scored 14 goals this season and starts every week, instead we have four keepers and Jake Livermore. Same old ‘Scared to try something new England’

Sean Cole: If I wasn't a Burnley fan, that would be the most depressing England squad in a long time.

Taylor: Nice to see another England manager bottling yet another squad selection. Southgate is a yes man.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Burfoot: Don't forget a squad is about chemistry as well as ability, Hart does have a lot of experience to pass on even if it is of the "what not to do" variety

Natalie Burnett: How is Danny Welbeck in the squad?!? Glenn Murray plays in one game and does more than Danny in a whole season.....He scores goals and Danny warms a bench?!?!?!

Adam: People moaning about England squad is laughable. You want new blood, you've got it in Pope, Tarkowski, Cook, Mawson all from "lesser" clubs. Hart's experienced, Henderson is captain of a top four side. Southgate can't win! This is most progressive England side in years.

Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has rejected a call-up to the Chile squad for this month’s friendlies against Sweden and Denmark.

Bravo was picked in the squad by coach Reinaldo Rueda.

However, the 34-year-old said on social media that he would not be accepting the call and will spend time with his family instead.

It is understood Bravo is in dispute with the Chilean Federation over the potential to use his personal goalkeeping coach.

“I deeply regret you are calling me against my will because over the years I have gained minimum respect for this shield," he said.

“My preparation and work are very important to me.”

Bravo has 119 Chile caps and was part of the side that won the Copa America in 2015 and Copa America Centenario in 2016.

Chile did not qualify for this summer’s World Cup.

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Phil Bowers: Just seen the England squad. Wilshire? Welbeck? Henderson? HART????? If this was truly a time to experiment in the run-up to a major tournament - this lot could've been avoided. Joe Hart still being within earshot of the England number one shirt is madness.

George Mcbride: I cannot believe there's no Shelvey as he is one of the most creative midfielders we have but Henderson gets picked....I give up.

Rezaa Sait: Why are people questioning the inclusion of Wilshere? He's England's most creative midfielder and he's playing regularly and well for Arsenal.

England manager Gareth Southgate has named four uncapped players in his 27-man squad to face the Netherlands and Italy on 23 and 27 March.

Burnley's James Tarkowski and Nick Pope, plus Swansea defender Alfie Mawson and Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook have all been included.

There are also places for Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck.

Injured Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill are among those who miss out.

Read the full story.

Image source, Getty Images

"Jack's a player with unquestionable talent. I have had to field lot of questions about him and the key for me now is he is playing the games that matter for Arsenal and playing well.

"Physically we feel he is close to where he can get to and he is having a good influence on games."

Image source, Getty Images