Rice and Southgate react to Grealish and Maddison's omission from England squad

Rice gutted for his 'best-mates' Jack Grealish and James Maddison after their omission from Euro 2024 squad

Transcript

00:00The attacking areas of the pitch in particular, we're blessed with a lot of options, all slightly different.

00:07Of course, Madders and Jack both give us something different as well.

00:12So there have been tough calls, there have been calls that we've gone over and over and over as a group of staff

00:19to try to be fair, to try to get the right rationale.

00:25We back our decisions, but we recognise we could have gone a different route.

00:32Both of the boys are big characters, fabulous team-mates, great boys to work with.

00:40So, yes, sad to have to deliver that news to them.

00:44Yes, it's been really tough.

00:46Obviously, Madders and Jack are probably two of my best mates in the squad.

00:50I've probably spent most of my time with them since I've been here.

00:53So, obviously, seeing them go, it's not a nice feeling.

00:57But they both just said then, before they went, Madders last night, Jack just now, that they wish us all the best.

01:02They're really positive and upbeat. Obviously, they're gutted that they've been left out of the squad.

01:06But I think that's one thing that Gareth's got spot on, is that we're so close as a group

01:11and there's no-one that's feeling really bitter about being left out.

01:14It's more about the team and them guys wished us all the best, as did all the others.

01:20Yes, I'm obviously gutted.

01:23In football, it's one of those things, managers have tough decisions to make and that's part of the role that comes with it.

01:30So, there's not really much I can say on that.

01:32Obviously, I'm gutted that they're gone, but they're really, really supportive of what we're about to do.