Jack Grealish’s brutal England Euros 2024 axing serves major disadvantage, claims John Barnes
John Barnes has revealed the major disadvantage the England squad now face ahead of the Euros after ace Jack Grealish was dropped by Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop Jack Grealish has major disadvantages, according to a former England ace.
John Barnes, 60, claims that the 28-year-old was the best entertainer that the team had but ahead of the first match later this week, things may not be so entertaining. The former footballer believes Birmingham-born Grealish could have been the player most likely to take on the iconic World In Motion tune.
Grealish, along with James Maddison, Harry Maguire, Curtis Jones, James Trafford, Jarrel Quansah and Jarrad Branthwaite were not called up by England boss Southgate, leaving the likes of Declan Rice, Mason Mount and Phil Foden to bring it home. Speaking on a new podcast, Barnes has revealed why he believes this decision could have a detrimental effect on the teams.
“I would always have Jack Grealish up there for the best entertainer,” he said. Barnes went on to add: “When you want an entertainer it’s quite interesting and good if he’s bad as well. Singing, dancing, rapping, doing crazy things he’s the new Paul Gascoigne.” Speaking to What’s The Jam, he went on to add: “Not as crazy as Gazza but I think he’d be the most entertaining.
Grealish has been known to entertain his squad mates(PA)
Reflecting on World In Motion, Barnes went on to say: “When I did that England rap there was me, Gazza, Peter Beadsley, Des Walker, Steve McMahon and Chris Waddle who all had a go at the rap and I did it because the rest couldn’t. For the current squad in terms of rapping, I’d go with Declan Rice, judging by the way he speaks I suppose he could rap well.
“You know you always want a cockney to do it.” Declan, 25, has previously showcased his rapping skills during an appearance on A League of Their Own. The midfielder left the likes of Jordan North, Jamie Redknapp, Micah Richards and comedian Jo Brand stunned when he performed Rice Rice Baby – a take on Vanilla Ice’s hit single Ice Ice Baby.
Since the news that Grealish hadn’t been called up emerged, it’s been claimed that he and Southgate have a fractured relationship. Former England striker Alan Smith said: “I was surprised by the Grealish decision,” Smith told Gambling Zone. “He came on and set up that goal for Alexander-Arnold with a lovely pass against Bosnia. I don’t think that Southgate and Grealish have ever been natural bedfellows. It took Southgate a while to come around to picking Grealish in the squad and giving him a chance. That can happen sometimes with managers.”
Meanwhile, Southgate stated that the players who hadn’t been selected “took the decisions respectfully.” He went on to state that the players who had been selected “believed they should be in.” Southgate continued: “They were tough calls, but we back our decisions but recognise we could’ve gone a different route. It was sad to have to deliver that news to them.”
