Finals Squad

Graham Taylor selected 28 players for the game with Brazil at Wembley on May 17, plus four on standby: Gary Pallister of Manchester United, the PFA's Player of the Year, who had narrowly missed out on the 1988 squad; the Tottenham Hotspur pair, Gary Mabbutt and Paul Stewart; and Geoff Thomas of Crystal Palace.

Liverpool right-back, Rob Jones pulled out of the squad, two days before the Brazil game, with shin splints. On the day following the 1-1 draw with Brazil, Taylor announced his 20-man squad, thirteen days ahead of the deadline. Andy Sinton of Queens Park Rangers was placed on standby, in case Liverpool's John Barnes failed to respond to treatment on his troublesome right thigh, and David Seaman of Arsenal was named as the reserve goalkeeper, as stipulated by UEFA. Five other players from the 28 were excluded: Manchester City goalkeeper, Tony Coton; his team-mate, Keith Curle; experienced Rangers right-back, Gary Stevens; and two Arsenal players; midfielder, David Rocastle, who also missed out on the 1990 World Cup; and the First Division's top scorer, Ian Wright. Another right-back, Lee Dixon of Arsenal dropped out of the squad with a knee injury, a week later and Gary Stevens was drafted in to replace him.

With the squad submitted to UEFA, England had one final warm-up game, against Finland in Helsinki on June 3. After only twelve minutes, John Barnes ruptured his right Achilles tendon and ruled himself out of the tournament, whilst Gary Stevens, the one remaining recognised right-back in the squad, suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and he, too, had to withdraw. Two days later, UEFA agreed to allow two replacements to join the squad; Andy Sinton, originally on standby for Barnes; and Keith Curle, who was a central defender, and now found himself recalled as the fourth-choice right-back.

Unfortunately for Taylor, there was to be another crushing blow, when Liverpool captain, Mark Wright revealed that he had aggravated an old Achilles tendon injury in Helsinki and did not travel with the squad to Sweden on June 7. The Arsenal captain, Tony Adams was placed on standby in case UEFA agreed to Wright being replaced. Wright flew to Sweden to be examined by a UEFA medic on June 11, the day of England's opening game, but as the injury was not a new one, the request was rejected, leaving England with 19 squad members for the tournament.