James Maddison and Curtis Jones have been left out of England’s 26-player squad for Euro 2024.
Maddison – who came off the bench in England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday – has left the camp, while Jones is also not expected to feature in Friday’s friendly against Iceland.
Gareth Southgate has to cut his 33-player preliminary squad down to 26 by 11pm on Friday – around an hour after England’s final Euro 2024 warm-up game against Iceland at Wembley.
England then begin their Euro 2024 campaign on June 16 against Serbia.
Maddison’s wait for a major tournament appearance with England goes on. The Tottenham midfielder made the final 2022 World Cup squad but failed to make an appearance before the Three Lions’ quarter-final exit.
Jones is yet to be capped by England.
‘Bad news for Maddison, good news for Grealish’
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:
“The fact Maddison isn’t in the squad makes it look likely that Jack Grealish will be in. He and Maddison are considered straight left-wingers, as Maddison can’t play No 10 as he’s competing with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and now Eberechi Eze.
“Both are very similar players in that they attack defenders and win free-kicks. This is a case of bad news for Maddison, good news for Grealish.
“It’s devastating for Maddison. I know how much he wants to play for England and how committed he is.
“Just look what happened at Qatar in 2022 – there was a huge clamour for him as he was playing that well. Southgate took him but he picked up an injury and never really shook it off.
“He didn’t play a minute in the World Cup but I was told he was a fantastic influence around the camp. His big smile was evident across every day of that England camp.
“Southgate values that but he hasn’t been playing well enough for Spurs to command a place in what is the most competitive position in the England squad.”
Analysis: Maddison’s England exit no surprise
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Following England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina Gareth Southgate says he’s looking for ‘balance’ in his final Euros squad
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
With three goals and five assists in his first nine Premier League games for Tottenham, Maddison was on course for Player of the Season, let alone a spot in the England Euros squad.
He was a shoo-in nine months ago, but now he is the first to be omitted from this extended England group.
This is no surprise. His form has dropped off since that scintillating start for Spurs this season. The only Premier League goal contributions he made since March 10 came against Burnley and Sheffield United, while he was not given a starting role in a makeshift England line-up against Bosnia.
A three-month injury in the middle of the season halted his progress but his form has not recovered since, and there is a growing pattern in Maddison’s seasons. In the last five campaigns, he has started them strongly then tailed off. That is not ideal for a player hoping to make summer tournaments for his country.
Perhaps the performances of Eze and Cole Palmer against Bosnia swayed Southgate’s thinking. Both players – who are attacking and wide-midfielder hybrids – impressed in the friendly and may have moved above Maddison in the pecking order.
And with Bellingham and Foden world-class options on top of that, it means the player who so many clamoured for to make the 2022 World Cup squad – and snuck in at the last minute – is the first to be cut from this Euros squad.
‘It’s a blow for Jones but not unexpected’
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:
“Southgate is taking a pragmatic approach – the players he knows aren’t going to be involved and doesn’t need for Iceland, he’s telling them now. Other players who might be needed in case of injuries, those announcements will come on Saturday morning.
Curtis Jones is yet to be capped by England and will not travel to Germany
“It’s a blow for Curtis Jones, although he was a surprise inclusion for the training squad because Harvey Elliott played more than him in the final stages of the season. But Southgate is an admirer of Jones and sees him as an important player for the future. Southgate has previously said Jones was in his thoughts and implied he would be called up to the spring internationals if he was fit.
“My understanding is Jones was told at the same time as Maddison, who has left the camp – he won’t be involved against Iceland.”
What is England’s current 31-player training squad?
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley).
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).