Euro 2024 is just one week away from kicking off in the stadiums of Germany. A tournament that will bring together the 24 best teams on the European continent, who will compete for silverware.

Thibaut Courtois is undoubtedly the main absentee in goal. The Belgian goalkeeper was an undisputed starter under Roberto Martinez, but his injury and a bad relationship with new coach Tedesco have triggered one of the biggest surprises of this European Championship.

As for the defence, Mats Hummels has not been part of Nagelsmann's plans despite having a good year, where he has been a Champions League finalist and has shown his reliability at the back.

The rest of the backline of this particular eleven have had to experience the toughest side of football, namely injuries. Harry Maguire was the last to be dropped from his country's list.

The Manchester United man is a very important player in the England squad and he has always been a permanent fixture in Gareth Southgate's eleven. Unfortunately, a calf injury meant he was one of the players left out of the England squad.

Meanwhile, Lucas Hernandez said goodbye to the season and the European Championship after tearing his ACL in a match with Paris Saint-Germain in May. The same injury was suffered by David Alaba in December, although he is now in the final stages of his recovery to be ready for pre-season.

June 9, 2024

In the midfield, there is an endless array of potential call-ups who have ended up being left out in the cold, such as Isco Alarcon. The Spaniard has returned to football at Betis, where he has scored a total of nine goals and provided 11 assists, making him his team's best player.

However, an untimely injury has deprived him of international duty with 'La Roja'. Gavi, who suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last November with Spain, has also failed to make it.

Goretzka's absence was a technical decision by Germany. Nagelsmann has left out the Bayern Munich player, who has been a regular starter this term. Elsewhere, Sandro Tonali, who has already been suspended for several months after breaking gambling rules, will miss his first major tournament with Italy.

Finally, two names emerge above the rest up front: Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford. The Manchester City winger has been one of Southgate's discarded players a few days ago. In fact, the manager has stated that there are more deserving players than the Birmingham man.

It hasn't been his best year (three goals, three assists and 26 starts) and players like Foden and Gordon have overtaken him in his position. Meanwhile, Rashford's performances have gone from strength to strength. But he has always been a regular for Southgate.

In fact, he was in the previous squad in March, although his playing time was declining. His off-field problems with Erik ten Hag at United, as well as his under-performance, have seen him miss out on what would be his second European Championship with the Three Lions

Other players ruled out

An event of the magnitude of a European Championship is the kind of tournament that no footballer wants to miss. Beyond this starting eleven, there are many more illustrious names who have missed out on the trip to Germany.

Gnabry and Werner in Germany; Verratti, Acerbi, Locatelli and Immobile in Italy; Sterling in England; Nkunku in France; and Cubarsi and Gaya in Spain. A European Championship that will encompass a great constellation of stars, but where a number of football stars will also be missing.

José Gayà

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