With the European Championship coming up around the corner, all nations have announced their 26-man squads and there have been some big names who will be left disappointed after being left out of their international sides. So, here’s our list of the top five players who will miss out on Euro 2020.
1. SERGIO RAMOS
View this post on Instagram
Football fans were left stunned to hear Spain’s squad for the Euros without their veteran defender and Captain, Sergio Ramos. Ramos, who has been part of the national team’s squad every campaign since 2004 missed out this time due to injury. Back in January, Ramos tore his left knee’s meniscus and also missed out on club football because of it. Once he returned from injury, he tested positive for COVID 19 and was even ruled out of the match against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. Due to his lack of appearances and match time this season, Spain manager Luis Enrique decided to drop the veteran of the squad and picked the in-form Aymeric Laporte instead.
2. MARCO REUS
View this post on Instagram
After having a career marred by injuries, Marco Reus ruled himself out of the Euro 2020 way before the German squad was announced. The 31-year-old has had a brilliant season with Dortmund and wants to take a breather to allow his body to recover for the next season. He said, “I have decided together with Joachim Low not to take part in the Euros. After a very intense year and achieving my goals at Borussia Dortmund, I came to the conclusion to give my body time to recover”. This will be the third major tournament that the Dortmund captain will miss since making his debut for his nation back in 2011.
3. MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN
View this post on Instagram
Another German to miss out on the Euros is Barcelona’s keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Over the years, Ter Stegen has improved and was about to give Manuel Neuer a real challenge in becoming Germany’s #1 but things haven’t quite gone to plan. After Barcelona’s title crushing defeat to Celta Vigo, the club announced a statement which said, “First team player Marc Ter Stegen will undergo a therapeutic procedure on the patellar tendon in his right knee in Malmo by Dr. Hakan Alfredson and under the supervision of the club’s medical staff”. Later on, it was confirmed that he will undergo knee surgery later this month which keeps him out of the Euros.
4. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
View this post on Instagram
After not being involved with his national team for a couple of years, Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his return to the national side for their World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. Fans were thrilled at the potential of watching Zlatan at the Euros but Ibrahimovic sustained a knee injury in AC Milan‘s win against Juventus in the Serie A and, as a result, will have to undergo a rehabilitation process which would last for nearly six weeks; the outcome of which is that it will be Sweden without Zlatan yet again.
5. VIRGIL VAN DIJK
View this post on Instagram
After suffering from an ACL tear in the Merseyside Derby against Everton back in December 2020, Van Dijk has been on the sidelines. The 29-year-old ruled himself out of the Euros as he aims to complete his final stage of recovery. He said, “With everything that is going on, I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the off-season. So the full focus will be on pre-season with the club and that’s a realistic goal, so I am looking forward to that.”
[Image Credit: Marc ter Stegen]
Shashank Iyer