Gareth Southgate wants England to refocus after Euro selection drama

LONDON – Gareth Southgate has urged his England players to refocus after he dropped Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Maguire from his Euro 2024 squad.

The Three Lions boss showed a rarely seen ruthless edge as he axed Manchester City winger Grealish and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Maddison following their poor form at the end of the domestic season.

He also showed no sentiment by leaving out Manchester United defender Maguire, who has been a mainstay of his reign but was unable to recover from a calf injury in time for the June 14-July 14 tournament in Germany.

Southgate was due to submit his final 26-man squad on June 7 before releasing the list the following day.

But news of his decisions to leave out Grealish, Maddison, Maguire, Curtis Jones, James Trafford, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah leaked early, prompting the Football Association to announce the squad prematurely.

Southgate believes his group now need to come together after an emotional day, as they start to focus on their bid to win a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

“I didn’t want to keep the players waiting until Friday. I think that would have been a mess, really,” he told the BBC.

“It wouldn’t have been fair on the players we’ve released, and the players waiting to have confirmation they were in.

“We knew when we named a 33 there would be a period of a nice prep camp, and then there was going to be a couple of days where there would be a lot of anxiety... We’ll close that down and now tomorrow everybody’s heads are clear.”

Arsenal’s Declan Rice, expected to play a key role in midfield, said he felt sympathy for Grealish and Maddison after his close friends were left out.

“They’re gutted and to see them go is not a nice feeling,” he said. “But we’re so close as a group and no one is feeling really bitter. They’ve both just said, before they went, that they wish us all the best.”

Grealish had been regarded as one of England’s brightest talents when he featured during their run to the European Championship final in 2021.

He was also involved at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and shone in City’s treble-winning season in 2022-23 before losing form this term.

Maddison went to the World Cup two years ago and was a regular throughout the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.

At just 25, Rice is the oldest midfield option in the squad, but he believes Southgate’s decision to select Kobbie Mainoo, 19, and Adam Wharton, 20, could prove a worthy gamble.

Mainoo scored for United in their 2-1 FA Cup final win against City in May to cap his breakthrough season.

“The last six months, and all season really, what he’s done at Man United he clearly deserves his place,” Rice said.

Wharton has also caught the eye since his move to Crystal Palace from second-tier Blackburn Rovers in January.

England were in action against Iceland at Wembley on June 7 in their last warmup friendly before Euro 2024. The match kicked off after press time.

Southgate’s men open their Group C fixtures against Serbia on June 16 before facing Denmark and Slovenia. AFP, REUTERS