Euro 2020 squad watch
The in-form Real Madrid striker returns to the French squad after a six-year absence from international football FRANCE
The headline from Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad announcement was the return to the fold of exiled forward Karim Benzema. However, Tanguy Ndombele, Ferland Mendy and Anthony Martial were all omitted – the latter due to a knee injury.
• SPAIN
Luis Enrique sprung some big shocks in his 24-man party. National team captain Sergio Ramos was axed, along with Jesus Navas and Sergio Canales. Rightback Cesar Azpilicueta was recalled, Aymeric Laporte won his first Spanish call-up following a switch of international allegiance, while forwards Adama Traore and Pablo Sarabia made the cut with Ansu Fati ruled out through injury.
• NETHERLANDS
As expected Virgil van Dijk failed to recover in time to make squad, meaning a first call-up for 19-year-old centre-back Jurrien Timber. In attack, Cody Gakpo and Quincy Promes were preferred to Steven Bergwijn, while No.1 Jasper Cillessen withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.
• PORTUGAL
With Pedro Neto injured, Primeira Liga top scorer Pedro “Pote” Goncalves was given a first call-up. Nelson Semedo was picked as Joao Cancelo’s understudy at right-back ahead of Ricardo Pereira and Cedric Soares.
• SWEDEN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to international football was short-lived after a knee injury ruled him out of Euro 2020. Jordan Larsson, son of Swedish legend Henrik, was called up instead.
• ENGLAND
The players cut from the provisional 33-man squad were Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Ben Godfrey, James Ward-Prowse, Jesse Lingard, Mason Greenwood and Ollie Watkins, while knee surgery ruled out Nick Pope.
• GERMANY
Back-up goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee injury) missed out on Joachim Low’s final squad as Germany coach, while Low finally bowed to public pressure by recalling Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels after previously discarding them in 2019. Further surprise call-ups included Freiburg left-back Christian Gunter and Monaco striker Kevin Volland.
• SCOTLAND
A flurry of injuries to Ryan Jack, Kenny McLean, Oli McBurnie and Oliver Burke led to first senior call-ups for uncapped Under-21 trio Billy Gilmour, Nathan Patterson and David Turnbull, although Farense’s in-form attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld failed to make the cut.
• BELGIUM
With squads expanded to 26, Roberto Martinez gambled on the fitness of Axel Witsel, who had originally been ruled out with an Achilles injury. Thirdchoice keeper Koen Casteels’ knee surgery meant a call-up for Matz Sels.
• CROATIA
There were no major surprises in Zlatko Dalic’s squad, with uncapped defender Josko Gvardiol expectedly called up.
• CZECH REPUBLIC
After Ondrej Kudela’s ten-match ban was upheld, Michal Sadilek was the wildcard pick in the Czechs’ squad. The other notable news was the omission of midfielder Lukas Provod (knee injury) and former captain Borek Dockal.
• AUSTRIA
“It was not easy to tell him [Sergio Ramos] something which was not positive. We don’t want to take any more ...we know that only around 18 or 19 will actually play” Spain coach Luis Enrique on omitting Sergio Ramos and only selecting a 24-man squad instead of the permitted 26 players
Adrian Grbic. Midfielder Konrad Laimer was called up despite missing almost the whole of 2020-21 with a knee injury.
• DENMARK
The Danes’ party was as expected with the only talking points being Nicolai Boilesen getting picked ahead of Henrik Dalsgaard at full-back and Andreas Cornelius pipping Marcus Ingvartsen to a place in the forward line.
• NORTH MACEDONIA
Igor Angelovski handed a first senior call-up to striker Milan Ristovski after first-choice forward Ilija Nestorovski was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury. Another surprise inclusion was midfielder Darko Churlinov, last called up four years ago when aged 16.
• POLAND
Paulo Sousa was dealt two big blows before announcing his final squad, with left wing-back Arkadiusz Reca (meniscus injury) and striker Krzysztof Piatek (broken ankle) both ruled out.
• HUNGARY
The Magyars were dealt a hammer blow with Dominik Szoboszlai joining injured midfielder Zsolt Kalmar on the sidelines. Uncapped forwards Szabolcs Schon and Janos Hahn were surprise inclusions.
• ITALY
Following Italy’s exit from the Euro U21s, striker Giacomo Raspadori was handed a shock promotion by Roberto Mancini. Gianluca Mancini, Matteo Pessina and Matteo Politano were trimmed.
• WALES
Uncapped attacking midfielder Rubin Colwill was the shock name in Wales’ squad. Defender Tom Lockyer was also called up with James Lawrence injured.
• RUSSIA
Injury-hit attacker and World Cup 2018 hero Denis Cheryshev made the cut for Russia’s final squad, but striker Fyodor Smolov was not recalled.
• TURKEY
Injury ruled out Turkey’s top scorer in qualifying Cenk Tosun, but youngsters Halil Dervisoglu (forward) and Ridvan Yilmaz (left-back) were both named.
• SWITZERLAND
Young defenders Eray Comert, Becir Omeragic and Jordan Lotomba made the cut in Vladimir Petkovic’s squad.
• UKRAINE
Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, striker Junior Moraes and midfielder Viktor Kovalenko all missed out on a place in Ukraine’s final party due to injury.
• FINLAND
Sibling defenders Sauli and Leo Vaisanen made Finland’s selection.
• SLOVAKIA
The notable absentee from Stefan Tarkovic’s final squad was winger Albert Rusnak, while striker David Strelec was cut from the original provisional party.
“We have four players who play at right-back for their clubs…they are in our best 26 footballers and that’s why they’re in the squad. If I could have picked a fifth or sixth right-back I would have done”
England manager Gareth Southgate on selecting Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker
“I had a long reflection to come to this decision…I needed it, he needed it” Didier Deschamps on recalling Karim Benzema