While spirits were high across the country as England reached the final of Euro 2024, for James Maddison, it was a summer of frustration after his omission from the Three Lions squad
Despite his injury issues, Maddison played a pivotal role in Tottenham Hotspur’s season, as they almost caused disruption when placing a bet on Premier League football by sneaking into the top four.
Ultimately, Spurs finished fifth, and England were defeated 2-1 by Spain in Berlin, with Gareth Southgate unable to answer the questions asked of him on the night, and Ange Postecoglou unable to solidify a Champions League place for Spurs in his maiden year in north London.
It leaves Maddison understandably disheartened by how his summer panned out, but ultimately, the 27-year-old must take responsibility and become a regular in the England squad.
After the tournament, Southgate announced his decision to step down as England manager, opening the door for Maddison to earn his place back in the Three Lions fold.
On the back of a solid first year at Tottenham – joining from relegated Leicester City for £40 million – he enjoyed a strong Premier League season, albeit one disrupted by injuries.
Those performances ensured he was part of the provisional England squad for Euro 2024. However, Maddison was one of several players, including Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, to be left out of the squad. He left camp immediately, missing out on a place in the 26-man squad and an eighth senior cap against Iceland.
Maddison made plain his disappointment in a lengthy social media post. “Devastated doesn’t quite cut it,” he wrote. “Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.
I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26-man squad as I feel I bring something different and had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.”
The 27-year-old had struggled with repeated injuries since January but still managed to register four goals and nine assists in the Premier League. The task now is to try and win over the new England manager, whoever that may be, and secure a regular spot either in the midfield or out wide.
A key part of Maddison’s game is his versatility, and he could leverage that to support a case for regular international game time. England struggled to find balance and collective quality at the Euros, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden lacking the synergy that ultimately led to their capitulation against Spain.
Maddison’s ability to drop between the lines and create, as well as his athleticism as a box-to-box player, make him a great utility man. Southgate evidently struggles to find a consistent partner for Declan Rice, alternating between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kobbie Mainoo.
Only time will tell if Maddison becomes a mainstay in a new-look England team. The future is undoubtedly bright for the Three Lions, and if he can continue to perform at club level for Spurs while maintaining his fitness, expect more call-ups from the Spurs man in the near future.