Jack Grealish and James Maddison have missed the cut for England’s Euro 2024 squad, while Harry Maguire has failed in his battle to be fit for Germany.
Gareth Southgate named an initial 33-man training squad that needed trimming to 26 players soon after Friday’s friendly against Iceland and the England boss decided to announce the final cut on the eve of the Wembley send-off.
Inexperienced quartet Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones, James Trafford and Jarell Quansah miseds out too.
Manchester City playmaker Grealish, who is a bit part player at the Premier League champions despite his £100m ($191m) transfer fee from Aston Villa, and Tottenham’s Maddison made substitute appearances against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday but have both been told they will not be going to Germany.
Jack Grealish. (Photo by Getty Images)
Maddison wrote on social media: “Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.”
“We just feel other players have had stronger seasons, particularly in the past six months or so,” said Southgate.
Maguire could end up being a big blow given his importance to Southgate’s side in the last three tournaments.
The 31-year-old defender picked up a calf injury in training in early May and Manchester United thought he could be back for the FA Cup final, but a slow recovery time ruled him out of that and now the Euros.
“The decision on Harry is totally about his physical condition,” Southgate said. “There is no other reason – he is obviously one of our strongest centre-backs.”
“I am devastated not to have been selected to play for England at the Euros this summer,” Maguire posted on social media. I am absolutely gutted.”
Manchester United team-mate Luke Shaw looked more of a doubt having been laid low by a muscle injury of his own since mid-February, but the left-back will be on the plane to Germany. It is a “gamble” worth taking,” said Southgate.
Kobbie Mainoo, 19, is the youngest member of a group that includes fellow midfielder Adam Wharton, who impressed on his debut off the bench against Bosnia.
Southgate has taken Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins as back-up to striker Harry Kane, who ended the season with a back complaint.
ENGLAND SQUAD FOR EURO 2024
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).