England manager Gareth Southgate has dropped Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish from the squad for Euro 2024, according to exclusive reports from The Athletic.
Maguire, who recovered recently from an injury, has not yet reached full fitness, while Grealish, James Maddison, Curtis Jones, James Trafford, and Jarrel Quansah have also been excluded by Southgate and his staff.
This decision comes as a surprise to many, as Maguire has been a regular starter for England and Grealish has been a key player for the team. However, Southgate has opted to go with a younger and more dynamic squad for the upcoming tournament.
Maguire, who has 54 caps for England, has been struggling with his form at Manchester United and has not yet fully recovered from his injury. Despite his experience and leadership qualities, Southgate has decided to leave him out of the squad.
Grealish, on the other hand, has been a controversial figure in recent times. Despite his talent and skill on the pitch, he has faced criticism for his off-field behavior and has not been able to replicate his club form for the national team.
The exclusion of Maddison, Jones, Trafford, and Quansah is also a surprise, as they have all been impressive in their respective clubs and have been tipped to make a breakthrough in the national team.
Southgate’s decision to drop these players is a clear indication of his desire to build a new and younger team for the future.
With the likes of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden already making waves in the team, it seems that Southgate is looking to the future and building a team that can compete with the best in the world.
The final squad for Euro 2024 is expected to be announced on Saturday, June 8, and it will be interesting to see who else makes the cut.