What Harry Kane did in England’s Camp After Hearing Jack Grealish Was Dropped For Euro 2024
A surprise, perhaps Maddison’s exclusion was understandable – England are incredibly well stacked in the number 10 position.
But Southgate’s decision to overlook Grealish was a shock – a player who has been so key for his country either starting or off of the bench in recent major tournaments.
England’s captain, Harry Kane, struggled in Germany despite scoring three goals in his seven appearances, he didn’t look comfortable with his positioning.
Part of the blame for his malaise could be attributed to the lack of pace and runners around the former Tottenham forward.
In truth, Grealish could have provided that outlet, able to excel in multiple roles on the left
That being said, according to a report by The Athletic, Grealish’s exclusion wasn’t a popular decision at all in the England camp.
According to The Athletic, England players were overwhelmingly shocked when Grealish was left out of the squad.
Players felt that the Man City player simply should have been included owing to his quality and big-game experience, regardless of his below-par club season.
When he left the camp, Grealish ‘was in no mood for pleasantries with Southgate’ according to the report.
And similarly, Kane seemed similarly unhappy with the decision.
Upon hearing the call, Kane was keen to discuss the matter with Southgate so he could better understand the decision and relay the resulting message to the squad
The pair went for a walk, and Southgate tried to explain his reasoning – and then the ill-feeling was compounded by England’s loss to Iceland the following evening.
Hardly an ideal scenario for England to start their tournament in, and on reflection it does seem as if the Manchester City star should have been included and played significant minutes.
And although Maddison’s exclusion wasn’t so hotly contested by the England squad, he too may feel that he could have contributed to a better outcome for his country.
Either way, the Tottenham star and Grealish will be determined to prove their worth for club next season, aiming to make a strong point.