Tottenham Hotspur playmaker James Maddison is one of the most notable absences with regards to the England squad at Euro 2024.
The Spurs playmaker was called up to the provisional 33-man selection ahead of the tournament, but did not make the cut for the final squad.
Maddison hit the ground running at Tottenham following his move from Leicester City last summer, but injuries took their toll later on in the season.
This culminated in England boss Gareth Southgate controversially omitting the Spurs star from the final squad to compete at Euro 2024.
Three games in, and the Three Lions have reached the knockout stages of the competition as Group C winners, but they’ve not exactly done so in style.
England ran out 1-0 winners over Serbia in their opening game before labouring to a 1-1 draw with Denmark and a 0-0 stalemate with Slovenia.
And though a first-placed finish in the group is as good as it gets, their displays haven’t filled fans with confidence now the team is in the knockouts.
Tottenham legend Graham Roberts took to X on Wednesday to give his verdict on England, while also namechecking Maddison.
READ MORE: Tottenham intend to trigger ‘world-class’ attacker’s release clause
Graham Roberts says England are missing a James Maddison
Roberts believes that the Three Lions currently have nobody in the team who can open up and play forward passes, and that their play is currently too slow.
The Spurs icon also thinks Jude Bellingham looks exhausted, while Bukayo Saka only comes inside, and that Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer need to be given a chance.
Roberts concluded by saying England are very much missing “a Maddison”.
England need to rekindle optimism
On the one hand, England have topped their group, which is as good as it gets with regards to setting up the stage for a kinder last-16 tie.
On the other hand, the Three Lions were among the favourites to win the tournament ahead of the start, because their team is packed full of world-class players, especially in attack.
And despite all this talent, England have been incredibly lacklustre and haven’t given much indication that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with against fellow big nations in the knockouts.
Obviously all that matters is taking it one game at a time and beating what’s in front of them. And there haven’t been many international teams in history that have dazzled in – and won – every single game, from their first match to the final.
Indeed, Argentina fell to a shock defeat against Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup, but Cristian Romero’s nation went on to win the tournament.
That said, England really need to go up a gear or two in their last-16 match, and rekindle the optimism that will make other big nations sit up and take notice.