Maguire and Grealish, England’s discards for the Euro Cup | Sports

Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish are the big absences from the England squad for the European Championship in Germany. This Thursday, coach Gareth Southgate confirmed the players who will be in the competition, which will include Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s great star who has just won his first Champions League, as well as Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka. England begin their tournament against Serbia on June 16.

As well as Manchester City’s Grealish, who has made 36 international appearances, players such as James Maddison, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Trafford, Curtis Jones and Jarrell Quansah were also left off the list. “All the players took the news with great respect. Of course, all the players will think they should be there and that’s why they are top-level players,” Southgate told reporters.

Regarding United centre-back Harry Maguire, the coach pointed out that injuries have affected his season. “The decision on Harry is entirely down to his physical condition and his recovery from injury,” Southgate explained. “There is no other reason, since he is one of our strongest central defenders,” he continued.

The 31-year-old player, who has 63 international caps, showed his sadness at not being called up. “I’m just absolutely devastated,” he wrote on social media. “For me, representing England is the greatest honour. It means everything to me. If I can’t help the team as a player, I will support them as a fan, along with the rest of the country.” Although Southgate justified this dismissal due to his recent injuries, Maguire’s partner in the United defence, Luke Shaw, entered the team despite injury problems this season.

“They are devastated because they have been left out of the team. We are very united as a group,” said Declan Rice, a great friend of Grealish and a player who did make the list for the Euro Cup.

“The fact is we have some players who have been playing extremely well in the league all season,” Southgate said. Crystal Palace is the team that contributes the most players to the squad, goalkeeper Dean Henderson, defender Marc Guehi, midfielder Adam Wharton and striker Eberechi Eze. These are among a dozen players without major tournament experience, along with Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa, Kobbie Mainoo, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer. “We are trying to balance experience where we have 11 players who have gone to three tournaments or more with younger players who are playing so well that we can’t ignore what they are doing,” Southgate said.

England’s list for the Euro Cup

• Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.
• Defenders: Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
• Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton.
• Forwards: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.