Maddison, a key figure in Tottenham’s midfield, was a surprising omission when former England manager, Southgate, announced his final 26-man squad for the summer tournament in Germany. The decision came as a shock to many, especially given that Maddison had recently featured for England in a warm-up match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, his inconsistent performances in the latter half of the previous season, largely due to an injury, likely played a role in Southgate’s choice to leave him out.

Speaking to Sky Sports after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City, Maddison didn’t hide his feelings about the snub. “Well, you have no choice. You can’t change it once it’s happened. I was disappointed. I didn’t agree with Gareth’s decision,” Maddison admitted. “It was disappointing because I felt I could have contributed to the team but like I said, that’s all in the past now and my focus is to just have a good season.”

Despite his disagreement, Maddison revealed that Southgate handled the situation with respect and professionalism. The 27-year-old midfielder acknowledged that while he was upset by the decision, he understood that it wasn’t personal. “Gareth’s a great man, and he explained his reasons,” Maddison said. “He’s a good person. It was never personal, we have a great relationship actually. I messaged him not long ago to congratulate him on his England managerial career and wished him well. There’s no hatred towards that. I knew it was a business decision, which he thought was best for the team, no doubt about that."