James Maddison omitted from England squad for UEFA Euro 2024 - ‘Devastated doesn’t quite cut it’

James Maddison has admitted he was "devastated" after learning he had been left out of England's final 26-man provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2024.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder featured from the bench in a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, but is set to be the first of seven players to be cut from Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man selection.

After being included in the 2022 World Cup and not making an appearance in Qatar, the 27-year-old will have to wait at least another two years to claim a major tournament cap for the Three Lions.

Southgate has until 11pm on Friday to submit his final squad, before it is officially announced on Saturday - a day after England's final warm-up friendly against Iceland at Wembley.

“Devastated doesn’t quite cut it,” Maddison wrote on social media. “Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.

“I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different and had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.

“I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends. I genuinely hope football comes home.”

Maddison left Leicester City to join Spurs in a £40 million move last July, but an ankle injury hampered his progress in north London.

Meanwhile, reports also emerged on Thursday morning that Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah are also expected to miss out on the tournament.

The Liverpool duo will not make the flight to Germany, despite impressive seasons at Anfield in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge.

Jones established himself in Liverpool's midfield, while Quansah stepped up admirably in defence after making his senior debut for the club in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United last August.

The omissions of Jones and Quansah gives fresh hope for Adam Wharton to make the final squad, after the Crystal Palace midfielder made his senior England debut in Monday's win over Bosnia.

England begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16, ahead of further group stage matches against Denmark and Slovenia on June 20 and June 25 respectively.

Southgate will be aiming to lead the Three Lions to European glory for the first time, after losing on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final three years ago.

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