Maddison on England omission - "Devastated doesn't quite cut it"
Thu 06 June 2024, 14:30|
Tottenham Hotspur
A devastated James Maddison has shared an honest and heartfelt message after not making England's final squad for Euro 2024.
On Thursday afternoon (6 June), the Three Lions officially announced that 'Madders' would not be in Gareth Southgate's 26-player squad for the finals in Germany and has since left the camp.
The 27-year-old - who has seven caps, four as a Spurs player - was part of the 2022 World Cup squad and frequently appeared for his country throughout the qualifying campaign for these European Championships, most recently putting in a noteworthy cameo in their 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park last time out.
However, whilst the midfielder felt his overall levels and work ethic were strong in this training camp with the provisional squad over the past week, he admitted that his form for Spurs since coming back from an ankle injury at the end of January wasn't at the level he sets himself and fully respects Southgate's decision.
Having signed for us on 29 June 2023, our number 10 made an instant impact with three goals and five assists in 11 Premier League matches but, following a two-month injury lay-off in the middle portion of the campaign, found it challenging to consistently recapture his early season form with five goal contributions (one goal, four assists) in 17 league appearances, despite looking back to his best in the 2023/24 run-in.
Following the decision, Madders took to social media this afternoon to deliver his thoughts and feelings - where he caveated his disappointment with a pledge that he will be back as he now has a summer break before reporting for 2024/25 pre-season with the Club.
"Devastated doesn't quite cut it," he wrote on Instagram. "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 & 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.
"I'll be back, I have no doubt. 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 ❤️🏴."
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The official announcement for Southgate's final 26 player squad is expected on Saturday (8 June) - a day after England's final warm-up game for Euro 2024 against Iceland at Wembley Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm UK).
