If England fail to win the Euros, it will not be because Eric Dier was missing from the squad.
If they perform abjectly, it will not be because the Tottenham utility man was stretching out on a beach somewhere.
Let’s face it, Gareth Southgate could have announced he was selecting 66 players, rather than 33, and most English football fans would not have had Dier amongst the number.
Let’s hope Dier was not paying too much attention to social media on Tuesday afternoon.
His club season has been pretty wretched but he is not the only Spurs player you could say that about.
Hence, there was never any serious suggestion Dele Alli or Harry Winks should be included in the Euro party.
But Dier’s case is slightly different. He is a trusted Southgate lieutenant. In fact, he has been one of THE most trusted, producing big moments for the England manager.
And when you are able to choose an expanded squad, you can afford to indulge a personal favourite, even if his form might be dubious, to say the least.
Yes, Dier’s club season does not warrant his inclusion but there is still an element of ruthlessness about Southgate’s decision to leave him out.
Make no mistake, the call to Dier on Monday night would have been a tough one.
And that bodes well. Southgate has to bring that ruthlessness to the serious business - the actual team selection. One to eleven.
There should be reservations, in terms of form or fitness, about some players who have served him so well during his tenure.
For example, Raheem Sterling has been struggling to find anything close to his top gear and Jordan Henderson has not played in over three months.
They are just two areas of doubt. Over the next fortnight and over the two preparation games, even Southgate’s stalwarts should be out to impress.
A majority would almost certainly agree with his decision to omit Dier but it still shows that loyalty only gets you so far with Southgate.
Let’s hope that still applies to when he picks the teams that will carry the nation’s hopes this summer.
