Mads Comeback
Frustration will fuel fire for “devastated” Maddison
Early in the 2023-24 campaign, it seemed unimaginable that the season would finish with James Maddison being left out of England’s European Championship squad.
On the back of a big-money transfer from Leicester, the talented playmaker settled into north London life like the proverbial duck to water.
A flurry of assists was posted, alongside three goals by the end of October.
By early June 2024, Maddison was seeing his name scrubbed from Gareth Southgate’s plans for an international trophy quest.
Hurdle
He has been left watching on from afar as the Three Lions have battled their way to another major final, with Euro 2024 winner odds pricing them at 23/20 to capture a first title since 1966.
There is one more sizeable hurdle for Southgate’s men to clear before basking in continental glory, and Spain vs England odds suggest that an epic encounter in Berlin is almost impossible to call.
Maddison’s unique blend of magic dust could have come in useful when endeavouring to get across a history-making line.
Plane tickets to Germany were passed in the direction of others, though, and everyone has had to make peace with that.
Getting over said disappointment, having gone four years without earning a senior cap at one stage, has not been easy for Maddison.
He was, however, eager to point out that he would be filling a role of chief cheerleader when being shown to the exits during England’s pre-Euros training camp.
He said at the time: “Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends. I genuinely hope football comes home.”
To see football come home and not form part of that achievement would be a tough pill to swallow.
Having initially been so close, Maddison will feel like international glory has never been further away.
Time is, however, on his side and a man with a point to prove should be considered a dangerous animal heading into another Premier League campaign.
Rival defences have been warned, especially with Maddison set to be fit and firing.
With his summer schedule cleared, he has been able to relax and recharge while others have shouldered the expectations of a success-starved nation.
He will have a full pre-season under his belt when turning attention back to domestic matters in August.
Progress
Spurs have plenty to play for in 2024-25, with Europa League football back on the agenda.
A top-four finish is very much there to be shot at, with there potentially more transfer business to come, and Ange Postecoglou is no longer a managerial rookie in the English top flight.
Maddison will be desperate to hit the ground running while avoiding the fitness setbacks that stunted early progress during his debut campaign as a Tottenham player.
He may have questions about what could have been rattling around in his head, but they could act as fuel for a fire that turns devastation into delight for a man who now has the 2026 World Cup in his sights.
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