25 smart players who will not play in Euro 2024

Euro 2024 is looming large and the deadline has now passed for competing nations to submit their final squads.

So, now we know for sure which stars will be playing in Germany this summer and who won’t.

Here are the top 25 players who will miss out on Euro 2024, whether that’s due to injury, lack of selection or their country not qualifying. And to make it spicier, the order is completely randomised.

Okay, most of the list is random, but we have to start with the big name that won’t be at Euro 2024, right?

Norway are in the midst of their ‘golden generation’ and it would be a disaster if Erling Haaland doesn’t play in a major tournament during his international career – his country’s last appearance at Euro 2000.

Had it not been for Reece James’ chronic injury problems, he would have amassed more than 16 England caps so far.

Can’t believe he was only called up to the final squad one big competition?

Sweden have plenty of strikers with Dejan Kulusevski, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga all regulars, but Alexander Isak is the crown jewel.

How come a team with such a strong forward line didn’t get in?

Mats Hummels’ heroics during Borussia Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final were enough to earn him a place in the Germany squad, you’d think.

Julian Nagelsmann didn’t think so.

Often a Portugal star, Raphael Guerreiro’s underwhelming first season at Bayern Munich saw him overlooked for the Selecao’s Euro 2024 squad.

This time last year, Marcus Rashford was playing down the left wing in England’s attack and the contest was not very close.

12 months on, he hasn’t even made Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad. Wow.

You would think that Norway’s formula of having Martin Odegaard feeding Haaland would be more than enough to win games.

Alas, it has not worked to good results so far.

It was a season from hell for Thibaut Courtois until its stunning finish. He sat out the pre-season after tearing his ACL before tearing his meniscus late in his recovery from that initial injury.

The Belgian agreed to give Courtois the summer to recover, although he returned after a campaign that won the Real Madrid Champions League and La Liga double.

Jack Grealish is a popular part of the England set-up and news of his sacking was not well received by his teammates, but ultimately his poor form for Manchester City cost him a place at Euro 2024.

It’s rotten luck to tear your ACL just 50 minutes into the new season, but at least Jurrien Timber is on the mend again. The Netherlands may miss his cooperation in various ways in Germany.

In the first half of the 2023/24 season, there was no better Premier League left-back than Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie.

Injuries mean Italy will be without his explosive power this summer.

Harry Maguire, thank you for turning into the best midfielder in the world at Euro 2020.

That is all.

It’s little wonder Lucas Hernandez has featured in three internationals for France given his poor injury record over the years.

The omission of James Maddison from England’s final squad means that not a single Spurs player will represent the Three Lions this summer.

Photo by Ange Postecoglou Australian the revolution will plan then.

It was bad enough for Courtois that she had to endure back-to-back ACL and meniscus tears. Poor Gavi managed them at the same time when he was on duty in Spain last November and will be back in January 2025.

Another player who has been hampered by injuries, Serge Gnabry has been in and out of both Bayern Munich and Germany teams for years.

17-year-old player Pau Cubarsi that although he has been cut from Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, he is expected to be one of the bright names in their Olympic list later this summer.

Yes, you can still choose Euros, right?

Although injury has ruled David Alaba out of Euro 2024, he will still accompany Austria in Germany as their ‘non-playing captain’.

Not sure if that’s a class act or just makes me want to vomit.

When you consider that Jadon Sancho has not been in the England team since 2021, it should come as no surprise that even his exploits against Dortmund at the end of the season were not enough to get him back on Southgate’s mind.

Christopher Nkunku initially agreed to join Chelsea shortly after the summer 2022 transfer window closed.

This is probably not the situation he thought he would be in less than two years later.

Lukas Hradecky, the captain of Bayer Leverkusen’s greatest club.

Finland, how dare you hold this legend back to Euro 2024 glory.

Ronald Koeman has revealed that he informed Ian Maatsen that he was not in the Netherlands’ final squad just two days before he took part in the Champions League final against Dortmund.

Brutality.

Remember when Leon Goretzka came out of the coronavirus Lockdown and suddenly became a bodybuilder?

However, he is not going to Euro 2024.

Sandro Tonali’s ban for breaking betting rules still has months to run.

Italy, however, have been boosted by the return of Nicolo Fagioli, who received the same suspension as Tonali.

England could really do with the skill and versatility of Ben White. It is a great shame that he and the coaching staff do not see eye to eye.