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Every England squad announcement for a major tournament is scrutinised and picked apart with some big shocks over the past few years.
Fabio Capello admitted in 2011 it was a mistake to leave Theo Walcott out of his England squad for the 2010 World Cup while Ashley Cole’s international career ended abruptly after he was surprisingly left out of Roy Hodgson’s side for the 2014 tournament.
Gareth Southgate has had to make some tough calls during his tenure in charge but the decision to leave out Jack Grealish from this year’s Euros might be his most controversial yet.
The Manchester City man suffered a dip in form this past season and some will argue that others were more deserving of a spot in England’s 26-man squad.
Eberechi Eze is an exciting young talent while Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen offer something fresh for Southgate from the 2022 World Cup group.
All four of them have shown impressive form over the past 12 months to put themselves on the plane.
England managers have had to make tough choices on their squads in the past
PA/GETTY
However, Grealish brings top-level experience with him and showcased in a cameo appearance on Monday against Bosnia before he was axed that he has that X-factor to change a game on its head.
The match was dull at best for the most part with Palmer’s penalty kick separating the two sides.
But it was Grealish who managed to provide something special with a brilliant cross and fid Trent Alexander-Arnold wide open before the Liverpool star fired into the bottom corner.
It’s the sort of magic that players like Grealish have been able to produce over the years and Southgate has taken a huge gamble by leaving him behind.
England managers in the past have taken similar gambles before with arguably none bigger or more shocking than Paul Gascoigne’s omission from the 1998 World Cup.
Regarded as England’s most technically gifted player at the time, Gascoigne was seen as a guaranteed inclusion in Glenn Hoddle’s squad.
The creative midfielder had been at the heart of England’s qualification campaign for the 1998 World Cup, but Hoddle made headlines around the world when he decided to leave him out of his final squad.
For many, it was seen as the biggest mistake by an England manager in history given Gascoigne’s influence on the squad at the time.
The official reason given for Gascoigne’s omission was fitness concerns with England being knocked out of the tournament at the round-of-16 stage.
Sir Bobby Robson also raised eyebrows in 1990 when he left out Tony Adams from his England squad.
Des Walker and Terry Butcher were the first-choice centre-backs under Robson, but Adams was quickly establishing himself as one of England’s best young defensive talents having taken over the Arsenal captaincy two years prior at the age of 21.
The commanding centre-back was a part of the England squad at Euro ’88, was crucial in leading Arsenal to the title in 1989 and appeared a shoo-in to be selected for Italia ’90.
Jack Grealish was the big-name omission from the England squad
REUTERS
However, Robson surprised everyone by selecting Derby County defender Mark Wright over Adams.
Wright hadn’t featured at all during the qualifying campaign for Italia 90 and was struggling with an injury in the build-up to the tournament.
The defender ended up scoring the winner against Egypt in the group stage in what was his only goal for his country as England went on to reach the semi-finals before losing to West Germany on penalties.
It was another case of what could have been with Adams eventually going on to become England captain a few years later and add to his trophy haul at the Emirates.
Paul Gascoigne was snubbed by Glenn Hoddle
PA
It could well be a similar story come July 14 this year on whether Southgate has made a mistake in leaving a player of Grealish’s calibre at home.
Not only is he one of England’s brightest talents, Grealish is also seen as someone capable of lifting spirits in the dressing room.
His down-to-earth spirit and relatable characteristics only add to his unmistakable talents on the pitch.
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Tony Adams was left out by Sir Bobby Robson
PA
He’s now a serial winner with City too, something the current England squad are lacking in.
Not having all that available to Southgate in Germany is a risk given the amount of pressure and expectations they will have on their shoulders.
Southgate has his reasons and admitted it was a toss-up on whether Grealish was going to make the plane or not.
He’s made his bed now and only time will tell if it was the correct call.
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