With the end of UEFA Euro 2016 squad selection deadline of 31st May, we have the final set of 23 players that have made it to their respective national teams. The selection has quite a few prominent misses. Some have been due to injuries while others have been due to the Manager’s whims. Here is a look at the 11 players failed to make that cut.
GOALKEEPER
Kevin Trapp
The German side has a problem of plenty and at times it becomes very difficult to choose the final 23 man squad. With three Goal keeping positions up for grab Trapp has failed to make the cut. His brilliance in between the sticks for PSG and experience of playing in France was not enough for Low to select him.
DEFENSE
Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal, is an example of how cruel football can be at times. In his last club match for Real Madrid in the UEFA champions league the Spanish right back suffered a hip injury in the 2nd half of the match ruling him out for an unspecified amount of time.
Rafael Varane
The Real Madrid center back has been a hot property ever since he burst to the skin. His agility and built makes me a good defender with the brilliant ability to head the ball.
But lack of playing time at Madrid worked against him as he misses the cut.
He will surely be looking for greener pastures to have more playing time.
Vincent Kompany
The Belgian Captain has had a long trouble with injuries. His captaincy and defensive abilities were missed by Manchester City for the major part of the Premier league and now his national side too will have to do without him.
Nacho Monereal
The Arsenal Left back has had a good season with his side finishing second but that was not enough to get him a place in the 23 man squad.
He has lost out his place to Cesar Azpilicueta, a player who was converted from a right back position to left back.
MIDFIELD
Danny Drinkwater
The exclusion of Drinkwater begs the question as to what more a man needs to do to get into the team. He along with Kante were the midfield pillars in Leicester City’s title win. But Roy Hodgson is not impressed and has in fact selected Jack Wilshere a man who spent almost all of the last season sidelined due to injury.
Juan Mata
Mata is a curious case, the Spainard in 2014 moved to Manchester United from Chelsea to have more playing time to consolidate his place in the World Cup squad but 2 years since the man has fought his place under changing managers at United and has played at multiple positions as per his manager’s desire.
But he has failed to make it to the world cup and for Euros even though he was brilliant for Spain in the last Euros.
Pirlo
The man is magic. People will pay to watch his skills and brilliance his understanding of the game. But age seemed to have catch up but he still remains one of the best minds in football. Who can forget those videos where he is actually signaling to the keeper as to where the striker will shoot the penalty. But even after all these super powers he is not in the Italy’s side. It may well be No Pirlo No Party for the Italian side.
Marco Reus
Heartbreak is the word. Marco Reus missed the world cup for the German side after suffering an ankle injury, but this time it is just cruel.
He is not injured and not even in poor form but his exclusion is strange simply unjustified.
ATTACK
Fernando Torres
He may well past his prime but this season for Atletico Madrid he was a different person. He scored crucial goals for his time. His goal in the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona was crucial in helping Atletico progress. With the absence of Diego Costa, and Morata being the lone proper striker, it is indeed strange why Del Bosque will not choose him the man who fired Spain to Euro 2008 Glory.
Karim Benzema
The Real Madrid talisman has been left out after a controversy involving a sex tape.
If that was less of a news, Karim Benzema after his omission has come up saying that his exclusion is due to Didier Deschamps ‘bowing to racists’.
France would surely have been better off going into the tournament being played at home without such controversies.