June 6th 2024.
Before the start of Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate had to make a tough decision that left many people surprised. One of the directors of a Premier League team was in disbelief when he heard that Jack Grealish, a talented player from Manchester City, had been dropped from the final England squad. Despite a somewhat lackluster season for his team, Grealish had been expected to be a part of the upcoming Euros after being included in Southgate's 33-man provisional squad. However, due to the limited number of spots on the team, only 26 players could make the cut, and unfortunately, Grealish was among the unlucky seven who missed out.
Grealish had been a key player for England, with 36 caps under his belt. He had played a significant role in the team's journey to the Euro 2020 final and had also been a part of the squad that made it to the quarter-finals in the last World Cup. His exclusion from the team came as a shock to many of his teammates, according to sources at The Telegraph. They believed that the 28-year-old would be traveling to Germany with them, especially after his impressive performance in the recent warm-up match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he even made an assist.
In fact, one senior player was so taken aback by the decision that they approached Southgate to understand the reasoning behind it. Several others showed their support for Grealish by visiting him in his room. Even a top Premier League sporting director expressed their disbelief, stating that leaving out a player who could make such a significant impact off the bench was "crazy." To make matters worse, Grealish's fellow midfielder James Maddison was also left out of the final squad.
Despite their disappointment, Grealish and Maddison showed professionalism and respect towards the decision. Vice-captain Declan Rice praised their reaction, stating that they had been positive and supportive before leaving the team. He also mentioned that they were close friends and that their absence would be felt, but they had wished the best for the team. Southgate also commended the players who were left out, stating that they all handled the news gracefully and believed that they deserved to be in the team.
Apart from Grealish and Maddison, four other players were also excluded from the final squad. Goalkeeper James Trafford, defenders Jarrad Branthwaite, Harry Maguire, and Jarell Quansah, and midfielder Curtis Jones did not make the cut. Southgate acknowledged that it was a tough decision, but he believed in the choices made and recognized that there were other players who had performed exceptionally well this season. He also mentioned that Grealish and Maddison brought something unique to the team, making their exclusion even more difficult. However, the team would have to move forward without them and focus on their upcoming game against Iceland before heading to Germany for the Euros.
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