Aoba Tanaka 
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison will not be part of England’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024, despite being initially included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man selection.
Maddison, 27, who joined Tottenham from Leicester City for £40 million last summer, had a mixed season marred by injuries after a promising start. His exclusion comes as Southgate trims the squad down, with six more players set to be dropped before the final announcement on Saturday.
The midfielder featured in England’s recent friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina, coming off the bench in a 3-0 victory at St James’ Park. Despite his efforts, he did not make the final cut for the squad traveling to Germany.
Maddison has earned seven senior caps for England and was part of the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, although he did not play in any matches. His international career has been a rollercoaster, marked by moments of brilliance and periods of absence due to injury.
Southgate’s decision underscores the competition for places in the England squad, especially in the midfield. Maddison’s exclusion highlights the manager’s preference for other options despite the player’s technical skills and creativity on the field.
The final 26-man squad will be revealed after England’s last warm-up match against Iceland at Wembley on Friday. One player not ruled out is Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, who has returned to training after a long injury layoff, offering Southgate a boost in defensive options.
As the squad prepares for Euro 2024, fans and pundits alike will be analyzing Southgate’s choices and their potential impact on England’s performance in the tournament. Maddison’s absence will undoubtedly be a talking point, reflecting the challenges and tough decisions inherent in international football.
For Maddison, the focus will now shift to the upcoming season with Tottenham, where he will aim to regain his form and fitness, hoping to earn a recall for future international fixtures. Meanwhile, the selected 26 will be gearing up to make their mark on one of football’s biggest stages.
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