Former England international Theo Walcott has shared his thoughts on Gareth Southgate’s recent squad selection for Euro 2024, expressing his lack of surprise at the omissions, including that of Jack Grealish.
Grealish, along with Curtis Jones, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah, James Maddison, James Trafford, and the injured Harry Maguire, failed to make the final cut for the tournament. Walcott, who once found himself in a similar position, being named to the 2006 World Cup squad at just 17 years old, will be playing alongside the likes of Jermain Defoe, Eddie Hearn, and Stuart Broad for a charitable cause.
“To be honest, I wasn’t that taken aback,” Walcott admitted to Mail Sport. “I was more astonished by the exclusion of certain players from the initial roster, such as Dominic Solanke. He’s had a fantastic season. What message does that send to players who perform well if they aren’t even considered for the preliminary squad?”
Regarding Grealish’s omission, Walcott attributed it to the competition in his position and the impressive form of Anthony Gordon. “As for Jack, he’s up against Anthony Gordon, and between the two, Gordon displayed more fearlessness this season, taking on defenders and tracking back. I want to see the Jack of a year or two ago; he’s an incredibly gifted footballer, and his absence from the squad speaks volumes about the depth of talent we possess,” Walcott added.
Theo Walcott (left) shares his thoughts on Gareth Southgate’s England squad selections
While Walcott anticipated Grealish’s exclusion, many were surprised
Jermain Defoe, a former England striker with 20 goals in 57 caps, shared Walcott’s sentiment. “The attacking options are truly exciting,” Defoe remarked. “I can’t recall the last time we had so many talented players in those forward areas. It was a challenging task for Gareth, but this group of players truly believes they can achieve something special,” added Defoe, who currently manages the U18 team at Tottenham.
England is determined to end a five-year losing streak on Sunday when they face a World XI captained by Usain Bolt and featuring stars like Petr Cech, Eden Hazard, Mikel Essien, and Tommy Fury. The World XI emerged victorious last year at Old Trafford, winning 4-2 and raising an impressive £14.6 million for charity.
Making his Soccer Aid debut, recently retired England cricketer Stuart Broad expressed his belief that Sunday could mark the beginning of a summer treble for England. “We need to set the tone,” Broad stated. “Win on Sunday, then England wins the T20 World Cup, and finally, we claim the Euros in Germany.”
Stuart Broad believes Soccer Aid can kickstart a summer treble for England
Harry Redknapp expressed his disappointment over Harry Maguire’s absence from the squad
Harry Redknapp, speaking to Mail Sport at the Soccer Aid for UNICEF media day, shared his disappointment over Maguire’s exclusion from the Euro 2024 squad. “He might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a huge Harry Maguire fan,” Redknapp said. “He’s a leader and a character, always putting his body on the line in both boxes, and a real threat on set pieces. Despite his injury, I’m sad he won’t be going. He’ll be a big loss for England.”
Redknapp will manage an England team filled with celebrities and former footballers, alongside his nephew Frank Lampard, as they face a World XI led by Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a charitable match.
Lampard, an England international from 1999 to 2014, expressed his sympathy for Southgate’s difficult selection decisions, which included cutting players like James Maddison and Jack Grealish from the final 26-man Euro squad. “These are Gareth’s calls to make,” Lampard said. “He has to make tough choices, and while it’s not easy, that’s probably the hardest part of being a manager. I truly believe England can go all the way.”
Maguire, who has battled injuries, was left out of England’s final 26-man squad
Frank Lampard expresses sympathy for Southgate’s difficult selection decisions
Redknapp echoed Lampard’s optimism, stating, “I fancy England to win the tournament.” He praised the abundance of attacking options in the squad, singling out Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer for their impressive seasons. “Hopefully, it’s our time to win a tournament. I really do fancy England,” he added.
Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 will take place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, June 9, at 7:30 pm. The match will be broadcast live on ITV1 in England and Wales and STV in Scotland, and it will also be available for streaming on ITVX. For more information, visit .