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All teams participating in Euro 2020 have announced their squads and there are quite a few surprises. 24 countries will battle to make history in the tournament that was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Euro 2020 is now set to kick off on June 11.
The European championship is one of the biggest competitions in international football and it is the kind of stage that big players relish. Naturally, it is the dream of every European player to make it to their national team squad and make an impact at the Euros.
Several big names missing from Euro 2020 national team squads
Due to various reasons, we won't be seeing some of the biggest stars at Euro 2020. While Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the best strikers in world football, misses out due to injury, Erling Haaland won't be playing at Euro 2020 as Norway failed to qualify for the competition. Virgil van Dijk is another big player who will be unavailable through injury.
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But there are other players who would have been expecting to make the cut but have failed to do so. Here, we take a look at five of the biggest stars to have been dropped from their national team squads for Euro 2020.
#5 Jesse Lingard (England)
Jesse Lingard recently signed off on a roller-coaster ride of a season. After being dropped from the starting XI at Manchester United due to poor form, Lingard became a peripheral figure at the club. The entry and subsequent impact of Bruno Fernandes made it hard for the Englishman to reclaim his spot in Solskjaer's side.
Lingard made three appearances in the first half of the season in cup competitions before being sent out on loan to West Ham. The 28-year-old went on to make the most of the opportunity presented to him. He kicked into top form and started banging in goals on a regular basis to help the Hammers secure a spot in the Europa League.
In 16 Premier League appearances for David Moyes' side, Lingard scored nine goals and provided four assists. The attacking midfielder has, however, been left out of England's 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
Southgate has chosen to go with the likes of Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden for Euro 2020. The Manchester United man will feel hard done after enjoying a career renaissance in the second half of the season and clawing his way back into contention for a spot in the squad.
#4 Jerome Boateng (Germany)
In March 2019, Germany national team coach Joachim Low had stated that he won't be selecting Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng for Euro 2020. The tournament was postponed after that and Low seems to have partially retracted that statement.
We say partially because Low has decided to call Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels back. However, Jerome Boateng, who has not played international football since 2018, was unable to convince his coach to earn a call-up.
The Bayern Munich centre-back showcased good form towards the end of the season. But Mats Hummels, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule and Matthias Ginter have been chosen ahead of him.
#3 Iago Aspas (Spain)
Iago Aspas has proved time and again that he is one of the best strikers in Spain. This season, he took it one step further and carried Celta Vigo on his back, helping them finish in the top half of the table for the first time in five years. In 33 La Liga matches, Aspas scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists.
He was one of the favourites to receive a call-up to the Spain side for Euro 2020 and that's why his omission has been shocking. At 33-years-old, this might have been Aspas' final chance to shine for his national team at a major tournament but he has unfortunately been denied that opportunity.
Gerard Moreno and Alvaro Morata have been chosen as the centre-forwards. While Moreno has had the season of his career so far in 2020-21, Alvaro Morata impressed during his loan spell at Juventus.
#2Theo Hernandez (France)
Didier Deschamps has named Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Digne as France's left-back options at Euro 2020. That ought to be quite heartbreaking for Theo Hernandez, who has just had a remarkable season for AC Milan in Serie A.
Since joining the Rossoneri from Real Madrid, Hernandez has gone from strength to strength and is arguably one of the best full-backs in the world. The attacking left-back is a great dribbler, who creates plenty of chances in the final third.
The 23-year-old scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for AC Milan this term. Hernandez is yet to earn a call-up to his international squad. But after such an impressive season, he was expected to be named in the squad for Euro 2020. Unfortunately, he will have to wait to make his debut for the French senior side.
#1 Sergio Ramos (Spain)
It would be strange to see Spain line up at a big tournament without Sergio Ramos. The Real Madrid captain has earned 180 caps for the Spanish national side but has been dropped from the squad for Euro 2020.
Ramos has struggled with injuries this season and Spain's national team manager Luis Enrique has revealed that Ramos is not fit enough to make the cut.
"Ramos has not been able to compete this season, he has not been able to train with the group. I clearly see that it’s a complicated decision. I recommended that he be selfish and that he regains his level to play in his club and in the national team."
Ramos underwent a knee surgery in January and started just two games for Real Madrid in 2021. This is the first time that the 35-year-old has been dropped from Spain's squad for a major tournament since 2004.
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