13 June 2024 , 12:12
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Former England captain Paul Ince has criticised Gareth Southgate's decision to axe Jack Grealish from his Euro 2024 squad.
Grealish was one of seven players cut from England's provisional squad, with James Maddison, Curtis Jones, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford also dropped on the eve of the tournament.
However, Ince believes Grealish should have made the final squad as he feels the 28-year-old can beat players in a way the likes of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer cannot. "Personally, I think Jack Grealish should've been in the England squad," Ince told Bet365.
"I really, really do. Sometimes it's been tough for him because Jeremy Doku has been playing in his position for Manchester City and at times Phil Foden, so it's been hard for him to get into the side, but he's playing for the best team in the world at domestic level.
"He's training with the best players and what Grealish gives you is calmness. On the ball he gives you that chance to get up the park, he wins fouls when they're not fouls and can calm the game down, he can change the momentum of a football match.
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"He can also excite you, he sees the right pass. I don't understand why he's not been named in the squad. When I look at the England team and I look at the likes of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, they're not players who can really beat anybody.
"They like to pass it, give it, get it, that type of play. I don't think we've actually got anybody who can actually beat someone."
Southgate's decision to drop Jack Grealish has been criticised (Getty Images)Ince also hailed Grealish's versatility, adding: "He can also play in numerous positions, on the right, in the middle and on the left, he'll be gutted. Obviously no one saw this coming, no one expected him not to be in the squad.
"I know you can say that he hasn't been playing for City but some of the players in England's squad aren't in form, so that's a contradiction. Southgate has got a lot of players in attacking positions, Jarrod Bowen on the left, Foden who can play anywhere and Palmer on the right, but you've got three players who are playing in one position.
"Obviously Bowen has played up front for West Ham but then you've got Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, there was definitely room for Jack Grealish to be in that squad."