EI- EI- EI- O: TO THE EUROS WE GO

More lower- league stars than ever will represent their nations in the tournament

The first 13 editions of the European Championship featured a paltry 15 players from below England’s top flight. This year, nearly 50 EFL stars are eyeing a spot on the continent’s biggest international stage.

All are following in the footsteps of trailblazer Keith Newton – the first player to take part in the Euros after a campaign in the Second Division. The Blackburn defender just missed out on England’s 1966 World Cup squad; Rovers were relegated that year, but it didn’t stop Newton getting the nod at Euro 68 – he even started against Yugoslavia in the semi- finals.

Trevor Brooking scored in England’s 2- 1 victory over Spain in 1980, despite playing for Second Division West Ham at the time. Eight years later, David Kelly was named in the Ireland squad having struck 20 Third Division goals for Walsall. Like Leeds’ John Sheridan and Bournemouth’s Gerry Peyton, Kelly didn’t feature at the finals – but fellow striker Tony Cascarino did after his own 20- goal season, for Millwall in the second tier.

Euro 96 witnessed Reading keeper Borislav Mihaylov and Luton’s Boncho Guentchev lining up for Bulgaria, while Derby defender Igor Stimac played for Croatia and Ipswich’s Claus Thomsen turned out for Denmark. Fulham’s Bjarne Goldbaek did the same in 2000 – the midfielder was the only Football League man to feature at that finals, although Richard Wright made the England squad after impressing for Ipswich in the second division. At Euro 2004, West Brom’s Bernt Haas sent commentators tittering; four years on, Southampton’s Rudi Skacel and Marek Saganowski got the nod for the Czech Republic and Poland respectively.

Even as recently as Euro 2012, only seven players went to the tournament after plying their trade in the Football League that term: Kasper Schmeichel with Denmark; Sean St Ledger, Paul Mcshane, Paul Green and David Forde with Ireland; plus West Ham’s Rob Green and Birmingham’s Jack Butland with England. The latter had been on loan at League Two Cheltenham, but stepped in for the injured John Ruddy.

In 2016, the Euros expanded to 24 teams – four nations from the British Isles qualified, and 36 Football League players went to France. Two of Wales’ scorers against Belgium – Sam Vokes and Hal Robson- Kanu – had spent 2015- 16 in the Championship, while fellow heroes Iceland were captained by Cardiff’s Aron Gunnarsson.

During March’s international break, 12 countries due to play at Euro 2020 picked at least one EFL player. Wales summoned 17, including League One trio Chris Gunter ( Charlton), Brennan Johnson ( Lincoln) and Matt Smith ( Doncaster), as well as Josh Sheehan of League Two Newport. In total, 40 EFL players earned call- ups – eight more were selected by their nations in the latter stages of 2020, and will still harbour hopes of a Euros ticket.

There could even be a milestone for the Scottish second tier: Hearts’ Craig Gordon represented Scotland in March and could become the first player to make the Euros after a season outside the country’s top flight. It’ll be slightly more glamorous than Arbroath away.

ROBSON- KANU BECAME A EURO 2016 STAR AFTER A YEAR IN THE SECOND TIER