England’s 26-man squad for the European Championship in Germany this summer has been announced, and it has been revealed that James Maddison and Curtis Jones have been omitted from the team. This decision comes after manager Gareth Southgate decided to cut seven players from his initial 33-man squad ahead of UEFA’s deadline.
James Maddison, a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, was part of England’s squad for the 2022 World Cup but did not make an appearance. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the Euro 2024 qualifiers due to an ankle injury sustained during a match against Chelsea. Despite joining Tottenham from Leicester City and initially performing well with three goals and five assists in his first 11 appearances, Maddison has struggled to regain his form after returning from injury. His lackluster performance, with only one Premier League goal since his return, might have influenced Southgate’s decision to exclude him from the squad.
Curtis Jones, who plays for Liverpool, is another player who has been left out of the England squad for Euro 2024. The reasons for his omission have not been specified, but it is clear that Southgate had to make some tough decisions in finalizing his squad. Jones, known for his versatility and technical ability, will have to wait for another opportunity to represent his country on the international stage.
Final Decision and Upcoming Matches
England will face Iceland in a friendly match at Wembley, where the final decision on the squad composition will be made before the deadline. The team is scheduled to start their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16, followed by matches against Slovenia and Denmark in the group stage. With key players like Maddison and Jones missing from the squad, Southgate will have to rely on the remaining players to deliver solid performances and compete at the highest level in the tournament.
The exclusion of James Maddison and Curtis Jones from England’s Euro 2024 squad highlights the competitive nature of international football and the tough decisions that managers must make when selecting their teams. While both players have shown potential and talent in their respective clubs, Southgate has opted to go in a different direction for this particular competition. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the England team as they aim to make a mark in Europe and showcase their footballing abilities to the world.