Football

James Maddison's hopes of representing England at Euro 2024 have been dashed after he was reportedly omitted from Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad. The Tottenham attacking midfielder had been part of Southgate's 33-man training group but has failed to make the cut for the tournament in Germany, according to British media outlets BBC and Sky Sports.Maddison's exclusion comes as a surprise given his impressive start to the Premier League season with Spurs. However, his form has dipped in recent months, and he faces stiff competition for places in England's star-studded attacking lineup.The 27-year-old has won seven caps for his country but has struggled to establish himself as a regular in Southgate's plans. With England boasting a wealth of attacking options, Maddison has found it difficult to break into the starting XI.Maddison's omission from the squad is a blow to his personal ambitions and to Tottenham, who were hoping to see their player represent England at a major tournament. However, Southgate's decision is ultimately based on his assessment of the players who give England the best chance of success at Euro 2024.England face Iceland in their final pre-tournament friendly at Wembley on Friday before Southgate announces his final 26-man selection on Saturday. The Three Lions are among the favorites for the tournament and will be hoping to make a deep run in Germany.

England manager Gareth Southgate has unveiled his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, with notable omissions including Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.Rashford, who has 60 caps and 17 goals for England, has endured a difficult season with Manchester United, scoring only seven Premier League goals. Southgate explained that other players in his position have had better seasons.Henderson, a former Liverpool midfielder, has also been left out after a disappointing spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq. He may now reconsider his international future.Several uncapped players have been included in the provisional squad, including Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.Southgate will cut his squad to 26 by the June 7 deadline. He faces a difficult task in selecting his final team, given the depth of talent available to him.England are considered favorites for the tournament in Germany, having reached the final of Euro 2020 and boasting a talented squad that includes Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka.However, Southgate has expressed concerns about England's defense, which has been a weakness in recent years. He is considering new candidates in this area, with Quansah, Branthwaite, and Marc Guehi among those included in the provisional squad.Despite being out injured for a lengthy period, Manchester United's Luke Shaw has been included. Southgate has remained loyal to Harry Maguire, while Jack Grealish is still in contention despite admitting to being below his best for Manchester City this season.