Kyle Walker has revealed key moments of England’s run to the European Championship final, including outlining how the Three Lions aimed to cope with the pressure of trying to win the tournament in Germany.
The Man City full back opened up about the England camp on his BBC podcast ‘You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker’.

Walker played every minute of England’s run to the final, with Gareth Southgate’s side eventually suffering a 2-1 defeat to Spain in Berlin.

The tournament marked Walker’s fifth for England, with the vice-captain opening up on his experiences in Germany to his podcast co-host Chris Hughes.

He admitted being left ‘massively shocked’ ahead of the tournament by Southgate’s decision to leave out his Manchester City team-mate Jack Grealish from his 26-man squad.
Kyle Walker has opened up about the England camp during this summer’s Euros in Germany
The Man City full back revealed his shock when Jack Grealish was left out of the 26-man squad

Walker admitted he had a different opinion to Gareth Southgate over leaving out Grealish

Walker suggested Grealish’s character could have been an advantage had he been included in the squad.

Massively shocked,’ he said when asked what he thought about Grealish’s omission. ‘Because first and foremost I know what Jack brings not just on the field but off the field.

He is like the knit that brings everyone together because he’s so bubbly and is such a great character.

‘We all know what he can do on the football field. He has something different that the others didn’t have.’

Grealish had payed the price for an underwhelming season, but has since admitted that he was left ‘heartbroken’ to have been left out.

Reports had claimed one player spoke to Southgate in the immediate aftermath to try to understand the call and help explain it to team-mates.

Walker dismissed suggestions he had spoken to Southgate over Grealish’s omission.

‘I can’t go against what he thinks I might have a different opinion,’ he added. ‘I might have pulled someone in and dropped someone out. You don’t know. But he’s had to a really tough decision where someone was always going to miss out.

He admitted the England squad discussed criticism they faced after their draw with Denmark

‘Obviously, there was a little leadership group of me Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham and Saks [Bukayo Saka].

‘We tried to make sure the messages that the manager was trying to get onto the field were understood and very clear to the players. And you have to work as a team, so if we’re fighting tooth and nail before we’ve even got there because I think he’s not brought my mate [Grealish] over – it’s not really going to stand us in good stead.

‘Do I think Jack should have been there? Probably yeah, because I feel that he brings something different. But again it’s not down to me to decide who’s in the squad and who’s not in the squad.’

Walker also reflected on criticism England received for their performances, with BBC presenter Gary Lineker notably labelling their display in a group stage draw against Denmark as being ‘s***’.

The experienced defender admitted he would be lying if he said the England squad had not discussed the criticism.

He suggested the squad had ‘put more weight on our shoulders than probably needed to be’ due to their belief they could win the tournament, which he believes impacted their performances.

Mail Sport reported that Prince William had told the squad to keep calm after the Denmark draw, with Walker revealing further advice from the FA president.

‘He said “Don’t show your true self yet, wait until the end of the tournament, that is where you show your true self, where your real self comes out as a team”,’ Walker Walker discussed Prince William’s advice to the squad after their slow start to the Euros

‘I think he was definitely right and I think it is something I will remember and take into Man City. You don’t have to start well, it is about how you finish.’

Amid the pressure of trying to go one step further than Euro 2020, where England were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy, Walker revealed how the squad bonded in Germany.

The 34-year-old confirmed several games had taken place during the camp with England, as well as singer Ed Sheeran and golfer Ian Poulter making surprise visits.

Walker revealed the squad had been playing the game ‘wolf’ – which has been adapted to form the hit BBC show ‘The Traitors’.

The card game sees players assigned roles as villagers or werewolves, with special roles added during gameplay.

Werewolves conspire to eliminate Villagers, while Villagers must identify and vote to eliminate the hidden Werewolves. In short, players must bluff, persuade, and outwit one another to achieve their side’s victory.

Walker revealed their game of Wolf/Traitors lasted throughout the tournament, with one England squad member impressing.

‘I heard Marc Guehi was very, very good at it,’ Walker revealed. ‘He was throwing bombs left, right and centre.