LUKE LITTLER has suggested he is far from happy with Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for Euro 2024.
Southgate was forced to axe seven players from his provisional squad on Thursday.
James Maddison, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, James Trafford, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish all failed to make the cut, while Harry Maguire missed out through injury.
Darts sensation Littler was one of many fans to share his disappointment with some of Southgate’s picks – mainly the decision to include Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.
In a post on his Instagram story, he wrote: “But Lewis Dunk gets in 🙈.”
He also went on to comment: “Lord help us 🙏.”
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Discussing his squad selection, Southgate said: “We have tried to [make decisions] respectively, and a understand is will be a devastating blow for them and their team-mates.
“But we’ve got that balance for excitement and a bit of remorse along the way.”
On leaving Maguire and Grealish out in particular, he added: “We’ve got some players who have been playing extremely well all season in the league and we feel other players have had stronger seasons, particularly in the last six months or so.
“Attacking areas, in particular, we’re blessed with a lot of options, and some different.
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What Southgate said about axed England stars
WHAT Gareth Southgate said about his axed England stars after confirming his 26-man England squad for Euro 2024.
Harry Maguire
“The decision on Harry [Maguire] is totally about his physical condition and his recovery from the injury. There is no other reason as he is one of our strongest centre-backs.
“Harry has made some progress, but it’s been complicated and we wouldn’t have had him in the group stages. There were too many hurdles to get through without being clear where we might get to.
“Knowing we haven’t got a clean bill of health across the rest of the backline, we need players who are fit and ready to go from the start.
“It was a really difficult call, you know how I feel about Harry, what he’s done for England and for me as a manager. “
Jack Grealish
“I have just delivered a really difficult conversation to a lad who is devastated.
“I think the world of him as a kid.“It certainly doesn’t get any easier.
“You put yourself in the shoes of a player, a parent. You understand that for these players this is a devastating moment.
“We knew we had a couple of really difficult days coming up.”
James Maddison
“Madders [Maddison] and Jack [Grealish] would have provided us with something different as well and they’ve been tough calls.
“They’re calls we’ve gone over and over and over as a group of staff to try to be fair and to try to use the right rationale.
“We back our decisions but we recognise we could have gone a different route. The boys are big characters, fabulous team-mates and great boys to work with.
“It’s sad to have to deliver that news to them.”
Jarrad Branthwaite
“It’s a bit early for Jarrad [Branthwaite]. He has had a fabulous season, it was good to get him on the pitch the other night.
“But of course, in an ideal world, you’d like that balance of left-footers. For him to be in ahead of the others, I don’t think it would have been the right call at this stage.”
Jarell Quansah
“Jarell Quansah has stayed with us. He’s not had the experience of an England international at Wembley. It’ll be great for him to be us for the game.
“Hopefully we’re not needing to call anyone else in.”
“Madders and Jack offer something different… we back our decisions but acknowledge we could have gone in another direction.”
Maguire admitted he was “absolutely gutted” to have missed out on a place.
He wrote on social media: “I am devastated not to have been selected to play for England at the Euros this summer.
“Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to overcome an injury to my calf. Maybe I pushed myself too hard, to try and make it. Simply, I am absolutely gutted.
“For me, representing England is the highest 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. Go and win it boys.
“Next, I will return to the supervision of the Manchester United medical team in order to prepare for next season.”
How England will line up after big names axed from Euros
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
