'Good news' - Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford's England snubs slammed by Serbia legend Nemanja Matic ahead of Euro 2024 clash

Southgate's decision to leave out Rashford and Grealish from his final 26-man squad for Euro 2024 has stirred considerable debate among fans and pundits alike. The announcement, made on Thursday, shocked many, as both players are widely regarded as among the best in their positions with the ability to turn the tide of a match with a single moment of brilliance.

Rashford's exclusion was particularly unexpected, given his reputation and past performances for the national team. However, his form during the last season at Manchester United was underwhelming as he managed to score only seven goals in 33 league appearances, a far cry from his previous standards. Whereas, Grealish's season at Manchester City was marked by inconsistency, which ultimately cost him a place in the national team for the tournament.

Matic, who had plied his trade in the Premier League with both United and Chelsea, took to X and wrote: "I would always like to have players like @MarcusRashford and @JackGrealish in the team. Players who can decide the game with one move! Not selected/good news for us."

Grealish's exclusion stunned his teammates and it reportedly led to a senior member of the England team approaching Southgate to seek an explanation.

It remains to be seen if the absence of Rashford and Grealish has any implication on England's performance in the Euro 2024 tournament. The Three Lions face Serbia in their first game of the tournament on June 16 and anything less than the three points would put Southgate under significant pressure.