‘I Was Heartbroken’ – Jack Grealish Reflects On Omission From England’s Euro 2024 Squad

Manchester City forward, Jack Grealish, has recently shared his disappointment following his exclusion from England’s Euro 2024 squad.

The 28-year-old player recounted the experience of not making the final cut of the 26-man squad chosen by manager Gareth Southgate for the Euro 2024 tournament as the most challenging obstacle he has encountered throughout his career.

In an introspective moment, Grealish disclosed the struggle of being persistently reminded of the tournament’s occurrence each time he glanced at his phone or watched television during his vacation.

As a player boasting 36 caps for England, he acknowledged the profound impact of not being selected, highlighting the personal and footballing implications of this exclusion.

“When you are on your holidays, every time you turn on the phone or the TV you just see it [the tournament], so it was hard not to see,” Grealish told reporters during City’s pre-season tour of the United States.

“I’ll be honest, football-wise it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in terms of my own career.

“I was absolutely heartbroken. For myself now moving forward, I have to just try and use that as motivation going into this season.”

Grealish, who embarked on a high-profile transition from Aston Villa to Manchester City, securing a transfer worth a record-breaking £100 million in August 2021, articulated his conviction that he could have brought a distinctive contribution to the England squad, which clinched the second position in the tournament.

Despite his belief in his eligibility for a spot on the team, he has graciously acknowledged the result and is now concentrating on leveraging this challenge as a catalyst for his performance in the forthcoming season.

“I felt I should have been in the [England] squad,” he said.

“I feel like I offer something different to players in the England squad.

“But it is what it is.

“As I said, it was the hardest moment for me as a footballer. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career.”