June 16th 2024.
Unfortunately, it seems that Jack Grealish won't be joining the England squad in Germany this summer. Along with a few other talented players, Grealish was not chosen for the final 26-man squad by manager Gareth Southgate earlier this month. This came as a surprise to many, as he had been a part of the initial 33-man provisional squad and even made a great assist in a warm-up game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, despite his strong performances for Manchester City during their Treble campaign in the 2022-23 season, Grealish struggled to make a big impact last season. As a result, his City teammate Phil Foden and Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon have moved ahead of him in the England pecking order. Even young players like Cole Palmer and Eze Eberechi have emerged as potential attacking options, leaving Grealish out of the final squad.
The ultimate reason for Grealish's absence is that his performances this season did not meet the standards required for a spot in the final squad. As Southgate explained, all the decisions were made respectfully and every player believed they deserved to be there. However, in the end, some players had stronger seasons and deserved the opportunity to represent England at Euro 2024.
It was a tough call for Southgate and his staff, but they stand by their decisions and understand that they could have gone a different route. As Southgate mentioned, it was a difficult task to deliver the news to Grealish and the other players who were left out, but they are all professionals and will continue to work hard for their respective clubs.
Interestingly, Grealish has not yet publicly addressed his omission from the England squad. However, his City teammate Kyle Walker revealed that it was not a shock to him, considering the level of competition within the squad. Walker also acknowledged that Grealish himself has admitted that he could have had a better season, which ultimately played a role in Southgate's decision-making process.
In the end, it all comes down to merit. Players are chosen based on their performances for their clubs, and Grealish simply did not meet the criteria this time around. As Walker stated, players should always be chosen based on their form and merit, and that's exactly what Southgate and his staff have done. It may be disappointing for Grealish, but he will surely continue to work hard and earn his spot in the England squad in the future.
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