Before Christmas, Home Alone enthusiast Jack Grealish crossed something off his bucket list by touring New York in Kevin McCallister’s footsteps.
As England begins its bid for European Championship glory, the Manchester City star has his sights set on achieving an even greater dream.
Grealish, 27, rose to fame among fans when Gareth Southgate’s team advanced to the Euro final at Wembley two years ago, only to lose heartbreakingly on penalties under the arch.
Visiting the winners On Thursday, Italy will begin the qualifying process for the following tournament; this will be England’s first game since their heartbreaking World Cup quarterfinal loss to France.
After that setback in December, Southgate’s team dispersed throughout the world, with Grealish seizing the chance to visit New York around Christmas and take in the sites from Home Alone 2.
He said: “I stayed in the [same] hotel.
“You could get some mad room service, like 16 scoops of ice cream! Like what he got in the film.Â
“I love that film, man. Someone had told me about [the tour], so we went round Central Park. I’ve watched it so many times.
“I felt like a right little tourist. I was in the back of the carriage thing and every now and again someone would say, ‘I swear that’s Jack Grealish’. I was saying, ‘Mate, quick, speed up!’ I loved it.Â
“I love Christmas. My mum’s always made Christmas so special for me growing up, so I’ve always loved Christmas and I’ve always wanted to go to New York around Christmas time.Â
“Because of football we’ve never been able to. It was like a little bucket-list moment. I loved it.”
In Naples, England’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign gets underway against the defending champions, Italy.
Grealish is “buzzing” that manager Southgate stayed on to guide the country through another qualification campaign because it frees him up to concentrate on crossing off another item from his bucket list by helping England win a trophy.
