Euro 2024 will be without some huge names (Picture: Getty)
Euro 2024 will see some of the continent’s finest stars battle it out for European Championship glory, but for a number of high-profile players, they will be forced to watch from home like the rest of us.
Flip flops, rather than football boots, will be the order of the day for those stars who will be playing no part in Euro 2024 with injuries, failure in qualifying and bans ending the dreams of many players.
And whilst England and their star-studded squad may have been installed as the tournament favourites, this starting XI of Euro 2024 absentees could definitely give the Three Lions a run for their money.
Metro.co.uk takes a look at the players who will be forced to keep a watching brief for this summer’s tournament, which kicks-off in Germany on June 14.
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Thibaut Courtois
Courtois tore the ACL in his left knee on the eve of the season, and then tore the meniscus in his other knee upon his return to training in March, but incredibly he overcame both setbacks to make his first appearance of the season for Real Madrid earlier this month.
But despite his return to the pitch, Domenico Tedesco has confirmed that Courtois will not be part of his squad for the tournament after the Belgium manager claimed that the goalkeeper had missed a Euro 2024 qualifier because he was upset at not having been made captain, only for Courtois to hit back by essentially calling him a liar on social media.
David Alaba
Austria’s star player ruptured his ACL playing for Real Madrid in December and despite his best efforts, it looks like Euro 2024 will come too soon on his road to recovery.
Alaba’s absence will be a seismic blow to Ralf Rangnick’s men, who will be playing in only their fourth-ever European Championships this summer.
Stefan Savic
Savic remains an important member of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid team, and more so for Montenegro, whom he has won 73 caps for since his debut in 2010.
Savic, who had a brief spell in English football with Manchester City in the 2011/12 season, will play no part at Euro 2024 given that Montenegro failed to qualify having finished third in Group G behind Hungary and Serbia.
Victor Lindelof
Captain Lindelof will be unable to lead Sweden in Germany (Picture: Getty)
Sweden finished a distant third behind Belgium and Austria in a hugely underwhelming Group F qualifying campaign.
It means that Lindelof will not be able to add to his three major tournaments to date for Sweden, but it could be a perfect opportunity to sort his Manchester United future out given he is out of contract at Old Trafford next season.
Conor Bradley
Bradley has enjoyed a breakout season at Liverpool, starring in the side when he deputised for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold earlier in the campaign.
But sadly, Bradley’s blossoming talent will not be on show at Euro 2024 with only San Marino having finished below Northern Ireland in qualifying.
Sandro Tonali
Tonali was handed a 10-month ban by the Italian Football Federation last October for breaching betting rules, ending the Newcastle midfielder’s dreams of competing for the Azzurri at Euro 2024.
The 24 year-old, who has since been given a further suspended two-month ban for betting and will return to action in August, has won 15 caps for Italy but was not part of the squad which won Euro 2020 three years ago.
Gavi
Injury has robbed Euro 2024 of one of Europe’s brightest young talents, with the Barcelona ace suffering a complete tear of his ACL during Spain’s win over Georgia in November.
Despite sealing qualification with the win, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente described the scene in the dressing room afterwards as a ‘funeral parlour’, adding that Gavi’s injury was the ‘hardest moment I have experienced in football.’
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard misses out on another major tournament (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal fans might be pleased that Odegaard will be able to put his feet up this summer, but the midfield magician himself will not, given that he is missing out on yet another major tournament for Norway.
Odegaard is yet to play at the World Cup or the Euros for Norway, who last featured at a major tournament at Euro 2000, but their wait surely won’t go on for too much longer given the abundance of talent in the Norwegian ranks.
Alexander Isak
Isak will not be able to add to his 44 caps and 10 goals for Sweden at Euro 2024, with the striker’s absence a real disappointment for football fans who have enjoyed his sensational performances for Newcastle this season.
Whilst it might be a quiet summer for Isak on the pitch, it may well be a busy season off it, given the whole host of clubs who are reportedly interested in signing the 24 year-old.
Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski is another victim of Sweden’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024 with the Spurs man set to have the summer off from international duty.
Despite his immense talent, Kulusevski has only managed three goals is his 37 caps since making his debut in 2019.
Erling Haaland
Defenders will be delighted to know they won’t have to face Haaland in Germany, with the Manchester City striker the biggest star not to be involved at Euro 2024.
His five goals in six appearances in qualifying wasn’t enough to see Norway book their spot in the tournament, with his wait to feature in a major international competition extended for another two years at least.