Gareth Southgate has been brilliant throughout Euro 2020 but I would build my England side around genius Jack Grealish

EVERY single member of the squad did themselves justice but sadly we just came up short against an Italy team that I think was the best in the tournament. Of course, it’s all about opinions and Gareth Southgate has been brilliant throughout. But personally I would have Jack Grealish in the England team every day […]

EVERY single member of the squad did themselves justice but sadly we just came up short against an Italy team that I think was the best in the tournament.

Of course, it’s all about opinions and Gareth Southgate has been brilliant throughout.

AFP

Gareth Southgate must build his England team around superstar Jack Grealish[/caption]

But personally I would have Jack Grealish in the England team every day of the week.

I’ve said before that any other country in the world would build their side around him, and for me he could have been the star of the tournament.

When he came on, he played a little backheel to Bukayo Saka that was genius.

He just sees passes others don’t and I love people who can do those little things to win a game.

People will say, ‘Ah yes, but we won games without him’ – and fair enough.

But who’s to say we wouldn’t have won even easier with Jack in the side?

In the final I feel we lacked someone who could run the game, in the way Jorginho took it off the back four and allowed Italy to play their way up.

I’m a huge Grealish fan, just as I loved players like Alan Hudson and Tony Currie back in the day, and worked with some great ones like Paolo Di Canio, Paul Merson and Robert Prosinecki.

But I am not suggesting Southgate got it wrong. Far from it.

Overall we had a good tournament, it was great for the country and we were so close to going all the way.

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And there’s no reason why we can’t be even better at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of next year… not with all the youngsters we’ve got coming through.

Kids like Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount, Reece James, Saka and plenty of others.

So let’s be positive, let’s look forward and let’s go one step further next time.

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