Former England star Paul Gascoigne raised eyebrows with some surprising comments regarding the upcoming Euros. In a podcast appearance, Paul Gascoigne, known for his maverick personality, confessed his lack of familiarity with current England players.
Asked about his favorite player in the current squad, Paul Gascoigne named Jack Grealish, praising his tenacity on the ball. However, the revelation that followed left pundits stunned.
“Bellingham – I’d never heard of him to be fair apart from the last two games,” Paul Gascoigne admitted, referring to Jude Bellingham, the 20-year-old midfield maestro who has become a cornerstone for Real Madrid and a key figure for England.
Bellingham’s meteoric rise has seen him win La Liga and the Champions League in his first year at Real Madrid. Despite the player’s achievements, Paul Gascoigne, now 57, acknowledged he doesn’t actively follow the England squad.
His lack of awareness extended beyond Bellingham. Paul Gascoigne displayed uncertainty when asked about center-back Harry Maguire, jokingly referring to him as “the Peter Beardsley lookalike.”
While eventually catching up on Bellingham’s talent, Paul Gascoigne expressed disappointment upon learning of Grealish’s omission from the final England squad for the Euros. Grealish, a three-time Premier League winner with Manchester City, was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Gareth Southgate despite featuring in recent matches.
Southgate’s bold selections continued with the exclusion of James Maddison and Harry Maguire, mainstays in previous international tournaments. Paul Gascoigne’s comments, though surprising, highlight the rapid pace of modern football and the ever-evolving crop of young talent vying for international recognition.
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