World Cup: I can’t accept it – Roma chief slams Southgate over Abraham, Smalling’s snub

Roma director, Tiago Pinto, has slammed England boss, Gareth Southgate for snubbing two England players in the Italian side, Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling.

Abraham was widely tipped to serve as a backup for Harry Kane in Qatar while Smalling stood no chance in making the trip even though England’s defenders struggled for form.

Southgate explained that he dropped Abraham because the striker has not been scoring goals lately.

But Pinto is not impressed, questioning the decision making of the England boss, wondering why someone like Harry Maguire, who sits on Manchester United’s bench every week should be in the squad instead of Smalling.

“I cannot accept, both Roma and the representatives of other clubs, that people try to justify international call-ups with what is happening at club level,” Pinto told DAZN.

“If Tammy is not part of the England squad because he didn’t score over the last month, for example, but they called up a player who was on the bench for his club yesterday, then in that case Smalling ought to be a starter for England.”