Gareth Southgate axes Tottenham star from final England squad for Euro 2024
Six more players face the chop...
Gareth Southgate has axed Tottenham midfielder James Maddison from England’s final Euro 2024 squad.
Three Lions boss Southgate named Maddison in his 33-man provisional squad three weeks ago but will drop the Spurs star when he announces his final 26-man squad this weekend, according to The Athletic.
Maddison, who earned his seventh England cap when he came on as a second-half substitute in Monday’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, had a mixed season for Tottenham.
The 27-year-old began the campaign in superb form, helping Ange Postecoglou’s side climb to the top of the Premier League table and briefly threaten to mount a title challenge.
But Maddison’s form petered out as the season went on and he only contributed one goal in his last 22 appearances, not helped by an ankle injury that kept him out for three months.
England’s final Euro 2024 squad is set to be confirmed on Saturday, the morning after Southgate’s side face Iceland in their final warm-up game.
Maddison will not be taken to Germany for the competition, however, and six more players will also be cut from the provisional squad.
Other players at risk of dropping out include Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah and Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
England are one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 despite failing to win a men’s major trophy since 1966.
Under Southgate, the Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.
England face Iceland in their final game before the Euros before travelling to Germany and preparing for their opening group game against Serbia on July 16.
Southgate was pleased with England’s win over Bosnia and especially relieved to leave St James’ Park without any fresh injury concerns, with Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw doubts for the Euros.
‘The great thing is we have got through the last few days with no big problems,’ Southgate said. ‘That’s really important, we needed to get through these few matches.
‘I may have a few more selection headaches after tonight but that’s a good thing. I would rather we had good performances that caused you to think than poor performances. There were lots of individual things I was really pleased with.’
Maguire was thought to be closer to a return than Old Trafford team-mate Shaw but the left-back is also making good progress with his rehabilitation.
After kick-starting their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia, England face Denmark and Slovenia as they look to progress to the knockout stages from Group C.
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