‘Devastated’ Maddison left out of England’s final Euro 2024 squad

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison says he is “devastated” to have been left out of Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the European Championship in Germany.

The 27-year-old had been included in Southgate’s initial 33-man side for this summer’s tournament, but the former Leicester City playmaker will not be travelling with his team-mates, with the England manager opting to leave him behind. Maddison has now left the England camp.

“Devastated doesn’t quite cut it,” the playmaker said in a statement on Thursday. “Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.

“I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different and had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.”

He added: “Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends. I genuinely hope football comes home.”

Southgate needs to trim his squad to a maximum of 26 players, with the deadline on June 7, seven days before the opening match of the tournament.

Maddison had featured for 30 minutes in England’s 3-0 friendly win against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Monday.

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He had been selected in Southgate’s final squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite not being an England regular at the time. However, he did not make an appearance at the tournament.

Maddison made his first start for England on March 26, 2023, in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine. He has earned seven caps for his country.

In 2023-24, Maddison made 28 Premier League appearances for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, scoring four goals and assisting nine times. He was forced out for three months between November and January due to an ankle injury sustained against Chelsea.

England play their final warm-up friendly before Euro 2024 on Friday when they face Iceland at Wembley Stadium.

They are then due to clash against Serbia in their opening match of the tournament on June 16, before playing Denmark on June 20 and Slovenia on June 25 in Group C.

(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)