Top Players Who Will Miss Euro2020

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There is less than a month now until the start of Euro2020, which will begin on the 11th of June at the Olimpico Stadio in Rome. Some players are running out of time to fully recover before the start. While others were simply left out from their team’s squad or their teams didn’t qualify for the tournament. Let’s see all the top players who will miss Euro2020. 

A few weeks ago there was a chance that even a much longer list of football stars could miss the European Championships following UEFA chief Alexander Ceferin’s statement. As he threatened all players of the new European Superleague members to be banned from taking part in the tournament. Well, luckily the whole Superleague story only lasted 3 days. Which also means that we can see the players of the best English, Spanish and Italian teams in the summer. Except the unlucky ones, who suffered injuries this season and won’t recover in time. Or the ones, who were simply not selected by the managers due to lack of form or other issues. And players of teams which didn’t qualify like Serbia and Norway.

Top players who will miss Euro2020 due to injuries

Let’s start with one of the most well-known absentees, Virgil van Dijk who confirmed this week that he won’t take part in the championship. The Liverpool defender was injured last October and he is still recovering from his knee ligament injury. He will be massively missed from the Dutch team which are favored to win their group by online sportsbooks in the UK. Missing one of the best defenders of the world is still a massive blow for the team and the fans. Just as it was for his club, which couldn’t find the right replacement of van Dijk in the whole season. Hopefully he will be back in the team for the start of the new Premier League season.

An even bigger favorite of the tournament, Belgium will also miss a great player, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel. The 32-year-old suffered a terrible Achilles injury this January with his recovery still going on. Witsel was a member of the Belgian team which finished third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He also played in the previous European and World Championships. Roberto Martinez is lucky to have a few other great midfielders in the squad. While his English colleague, Gareth Southgate might face some challenges as well. As the team’s centre back, Declan Rice can miss the tournament. The West Ham player suffered a knee ligament damage in March but he might be fit in time for Euro2020.

Stars whose teams didn’t qualify for the tournament

Erling Haaland is one of the most sought after players at the moment, after the biggest clubs would like to sign him. He has been having an amazing season at Borussia Dortmund scoring 39 goals in 39 appearances. But unfortunately we won’t be able to see him in the Euro2020 after the Norwegian team didn’t qualify. It’s a shame for the young striker who could surely score a few goals in his first international event. We won’t see Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic either after Serbia also failed to qualify. Even though they beat Norway in the playoff semi-final, they lost in the final against Scotland in the penalties.

Serbia’s absence will also mean that other top players who will miss Euro2020 include Ajax captain Dusan Tadic. Plus Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Eintracht Frankfurt player Filip Kostic. But one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Slovenian Jan Oblak will miss out on this great occasion as well. His team only finished fourth in the qualifying group which meant the end of their hopes. At least Oblak can still win the La Liga title with his club, Atletico Madrid as predicted by online gambling sites in the UK.

Benzema won’t play either

There are some players, who could play in the team based on their form, experience and physical condition, but will still miss the tournament. Like Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, who won’t play for France in Euro2020. The brilliant striker hasn’t played for the national team since 2015. Following his involvement in blackmailing his teammate. Benzema was banned from the team and didn’t play in the last two tournaments.

Surely most fans would love to see him back now after his great season at Real. Where he scored 29 goals in 44 appearances. But with Kylian Mbpappe, Antoine Griezmann and veteran Olivier Giroud, the team can perform well again even. Just like they did in the 2018 World Cup which France won without Benzema. Meanwhile midfielder Juan Mata simply can’t get back to the Spanish team. Even though several great Spanish players retired like Xavi, Iniesta or David Silva. There is a new wave of young talents with Pedri, Rodri and Oscar. The lack of playing at Manchester United has also made Mata’s return impossible. Who last played in the team four years ago.

Muller can be there though

Another top striker is likely to rejoin his team in spite of not playing there for a long time. Bayern Munich’s forward Thomas Muller, who also had a brilliant season at his club.  Looks like his performance and the demands of the fans can’t be ignored by German coach Joachim Loew. Muller hasn’t played for the Nationalelf since 2019 after Loew announced that he won’t need him anymore. But Muller’s great form seems to have changed Loew’s opinion. The 31-year-old player has already scored 38 goals for the national team, though his last one is from more than three years ago. Now he seems to be back in his best form though and might be a key player again.

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