Grealish Omission Raises Eyebrows, England Players Stunned
In a surprising turn of events, one of Jack Grealish’s England teammates reportedly approached manager Gareth Southgate to inquire about the winger’s exclusion from the final 26-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.
Southgate announced his squad on Thursday, and the Manchester City star failed to make the final cut, despite his consistent presence for the national team since Euro 2020. Grealish, who bagged just three goals in a challenging season at Man City, had been hopeful of earning a spot in the England camp for the prestigious European Championship.
“There was no indication of any confrontation or row being involved, but the player’s action underscores the level of surprise within the England camp regarding Grealish’s exclusion.”
However, his omission has raised eyebrows, with reports suggesting that some of Grealish’s fellow England players were equally stunned by Southgate’s decision. According to the Daily Telegraph’s Matt Law, a senior England player approached the manager to try to understand the reasoning behind the decision, in order to be able to explain it to the rest of the squad.
Some of Grealish’s teammates were even reported to have visited his room after learning of his omission, as they saw him as one of England’s best options off the bench and a valuable presence in the squad.
Grealish, who earned his first major tournament call-up under Southgate for Euro 2020, is said to have been stunned and upset by the news, but he is reported to have handled his exit professionally and wished the squad and staff well for the upcoming tournament.
The decision to leave out Grealish has also drawn criticism from outside the England setup, with one top Premier League club’s sporting director expressing their astonishment at the move. Another Telegraph source accused Southgate of taking the “easy option” by cutting Grealish, suggesting that the manager was wary of the media attention the player would have attracted had he been on the bench during the tournament.
As the football world turns its attention to the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, the debate surrounding Grealish’s omission from the England squad is sure to continue, with fans and pundits alike pondering the potential impact of his absence on Southgate’s team.
🔗 Source