The eleven packages for the Euro

The Euro is in a few hours now. A year after its postponement due to a pandemic, the competition will finally take place. Some players have also been able to take full advantage of this change of organization, such as Memphis Depay, injured last year after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The striker, still under contract with OL for another three big weeks, will finally be present with the Dutch selection. Conversely, Virgil van Dijk is forfeited. Affected last October, the Liverpool defender did not recover in time from a ruptured ligaments in the right knee. As in all major competitions, he is part of a long list of absentees by injury of which here is an eleven type.

In goal, there was no real hesitation in choosing. Positive for Covid-19, Jasper Cillessen will not be present at the Euro with the Netherlands. Franck de Boer did not want to take any risk but there is above all a lack of size in the goalkeeper position since Marc-André ter Stegen had to give up due to a knee injury. Second in the hierarchy behind Manuel Neuer, the Barça goalkeeper would probably not have benefited from much playing time, only Germany is still deprived of a quality replacement in the event of failure of the Munich player. It was ultimately Kevin Trapp and Bernd Leno who were called up.

Liverpool and Real Madrid players particularly present

In defense, there was plenty of choice. Dani Carvajal package, we chose the case of Trent Alexandre-Arnold to illustrate our team. Also in Liverpool, we mentioned in the central hinge the case of Virgil van Dijk a little higher, while his other Reds teammate Joe Gomez is also forfeited with England. The former Southampton pair in our squad with another major absence, that of Sergio Ramos. Diminished after several weeks of absence this season, the Madrilenian did not convince the Spanish coach Luis Enrique to call him. A physical injury which therefore settles things a little … Another element of Real package, Ferland Mendy injured his tibia in early May, at the worst of times for the one who had the advantage of being able to play on the left, as in right of defense.

Our midfield looks pretty good and, admittedly, is a bit offensive. At the low end of this mid-three, we find Donny van de Beek, officially withdrawn since Tuesday with the Netherlands. To accompany the Mancunien, there is Nicolò Zaniolo, insufficiently recovered from a second rupture of the cruciate ligaments in two years, which occurred in September. Dominik Szoboszlai’s package was expected. Injured since December, the Hungarian has still not played a single match with RB Leipzig where he was transferred last January. Other midfielders will not be present this summer, such as Stefano Sensi, who had to give up, victim of a relapse of an adductor injury, the young Russian Arsen Zakharyan, ill with sore throat and withdrawn from the pre -list of 30, or the Croatian Marko Rog, injured in a cruciate ligament in the knee since December.

Ibrahimovic’s thwarted return to Sweden

Finally in attack, there are some big names who will not be at the Euro. We think of course of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who nevertheless made his return to the selection after 5 years of absence. A sprained knee thwarted Sweden’s plans. In our team, Ansu Fati is of course the holder, he who has still not recovered from a meniscus injury that began in November. Finally, Anthony Martial will also miss the big meeting of the summer, he who injured his knee with France against Kazakhstan in March. Other offensive players will not be there like Poles Arkadiusz Milik and Krzysztof Piątek. Pedro Neto underwent knee surgery in April, while Mason Greenwood had to forfeit, still handicapped by an injury that he has struggled to get rid of for three months. It still makes a lot of beautiful people less.