UEFA 'loophole' means Jack Grealish could yet be called up by England for Euro 2024

Jack Grealish and James Maddison, surprisingly omitted from Gareth Southgate's final 26-man England squad for Euro 2024, could potentially be called upon in an emergency scenario.

Southgate opted for young talents Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton over the more established Grealish and Maddison. However, a specific UEFA regulation offers a lifeline, albeit a slim one, for the overlooked players.

Article 48 of UEFA's tournament regulations allows for squad changes due to serious injuries or illness. The key caveat is that the player's condition must be confirmed as sufficiently serious to prevent participation by both the team doctor and a designated UEFA medical official.

This means Grealish and Maddison, despite their exclusion, could be brought in if a current squad member suffers a major setback. There's an additional hurdle for Grealish, though. Reports indicate he's currently enjoying a vacation in Dubai, potentially delaying his response to a late call-up.

Maddison, on the other hand, might be more readily available. However, the likelihood of Grealish or Maddison featuring in the Euros seems low. England's campaign kicks off on Sunday against Serbia, followed by matches against Denmark and Slovenia.

For now, Grealish (with 36 appearances for Manchester City last season) and Maddison (who played 30 games for Tottenham despite injuries) will have to wait and see if Southgate needs them for a late rescue mission.