Southgate Says He Hasn’t Made Decision on Grealish for Euros Squad 

Football - International Friendly - England Training - Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough, Britain - June 2, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate during training. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - England Training - Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough, Britain - June 2, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate during training. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Southgate Says He Hasn’t Made Decision on Grealish for Euros Squad 

Football - International Friendly - England Training - Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough, Britain - June 2, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate during training. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - England Training - Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough, Britain - June 2, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate during training. (Action Images via Reuters)

England manager Gareth Southgate is still weighing up the attacking options for his Euro 2024 squad and said that while Jack Grealish has not played as much as he would have liked this season, he is still in the running to make the cut.

Marcus Rashford was left out of the provisional 33-man squad for Germany and there has been talk that Grealish could be the next big name axed with Southgate set to cut the squad to 26 players by June 7.

Grealish made just 20 Premier League appearances for Manchester City this season, scoring three goals, and was an unused substitute in their FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United last month.

Asked if Grealish was in danger of missing out, Southgate said: "I don't think we're defining that just yet. I think we know where we're likely to be.

"I haven't talked to him specifically about the Cup final. But he has been really bright and he loves being here.

"This season he has not played as much. I'm sure he would have liked that to be different but we know the qualities he can bring. He is a player we enjoy working with."

Southgate added there was time for people to impress in friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland this week.

The likes of James Maddison, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen are all pushing for berths in the squad and Southgate said he had not settled on how many attacking players he would need.

"What we don't totally know is how many we need to take or how many we can allow ourselves to take because of the cover we might need in other positions as well," he added.

England host Bosnia at St. James' Park later on Monday and Iceland at Wembley on Friday before opening their Euro 2024 campaign on June 16 against Serbia in Group C.



Real Madrid's Rodrygo 'Upset' over Ballon d'Or Shortlist Omission

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Rodrygo REUTERS/Susana Vera Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Rodrygo REUTERS/Susana Vera Purchase Licensing Rights
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Real Madrid's Rodrygo 'Upset' over Ballon d'Or Shortlist Omission

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Rodrygo REUTERS/Susana Vera Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Rodrygo REUTERS/Susana Vera Purchase Licensing Rights

Brazilian Rodrygo said his versatility may have cost him a Ballon d'Or nomination after the Real Madrid forward was not among the 30 names short-listed for the prestigious award.

The 23-year-old scored 17 goals and registered nine assists in 51 appearances for the club last season.

His Madrid team mates Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, as well as the now-retired Toni Kroos, were all nominated.

Kylian Mbappe, who arrived at Madrid from Paris St Germain in the close season, was also on the shortlist.

"I was upset, I think I deserved it," Rodrygo told ESPN. "I don't want to belittle the players who are there, I think they deserved it also.

"But I think I had a place in the 30. It was a surprise but there is not much I can do as I'm not the one who decides these things."

Rodrygo primarily plays on the right but can also play on the left or as a centre forward, and is often utilized as a second striker by coach Carlo Ancelotti, Reuters reported.

"Often, I'm just filling spaces," Rodrygo added. "Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in. Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as number nine? Rodrygo. That's it.

"It may get in my way a little, but I'm a team player."

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on Oct. 28.