On June 8th (Beijing Time), England’s 26-man squad for the Euros sparked widespread discussion in the UK, including among several England legends set to participate in a charity match on June 9th. The Daily Mail interviewed some of these icons, with most expressing little surprise over Jack Grealish’s omission.
Former Arsenal striker Theo Walcott, commenting on Grealish’s exclusion, said, “I’m not surprised. What surprises me more is players who didn’t initially make the squad, like Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke – his performances this year have been incredible. If they can’t even get into the initial list, what does that say about players who have performed so well?”
In 2006, Walcott was just 17 when he was selected by then-England manager Sven-G?ran Eriksson for the World Cup.
“Jack’s absence is down to the competition with Anthony Gordon, and of the two, Gordon seems fearless, actively contributing defensively as an attacking player this season. I’d love to see the Jack Grealish of a year or two ago, a lucky footballer. His non-inclusion just shows how much talent we have,” Walcott added.
现任Tottenham Hotspur U18 coach and former England striker Jermain Defoe echoed Walcott’s views, saying, “I don’t remember having so many options up front in our day. The current crop of strikers excites me,” he said. “It’s tough for Southgate, but I really believe this group can win it.”
Ex-England managerial great Harry Redknapp insisted he was “disappointed” that Harry Maguire would not be part of the 2024 Euros. Speaking to the Daily Mail at a UNICEF Football Aid media day, Redknapp said, “He’s not everyone’s favorite player, but I’m a big fan of Harry Maguire. He’s excellent in both boxes and dangerous from set pieces. It’s a shame he won’t be there despite his injury. He’s a leader, and his loss is a huge blow to England.”
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard also weighed in on the squad selection, stating, “It’s Southgate’s decision. He has to make choices,” Lampard said. “It’s not easy, but that’s probably the toughest part of being a manager. I genuinely think England can go all the way.”