Goalkeepers and defenders throughout Europe can breathe a collective sigh of aid as Erling Haaland, the continent’s most prolific striker, will not be terrorizing them at this yr’s European Championship.
Despite his awe-inspiring report of 90 objectives in 98 matches for Manchester City and 30 objectives in 32 appearances for Norway, Haaland and his nationwide crew did not safe a spot within the match.
Although he netted 5 objectives in six qualifying matches, Norway’s third-place end in Group A behind Spain and Scotland means the Euros will likely be lacking their most feared ahead.
Norway’s absence additionally signifies that Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Odegaard will not be on the match in Germany.
Norway gained solely three of the eight qualifiers and completed six factors behind group runner-up Scotland.
A have a look at another prime gamers who will not be at Euro 2024, which begins Friday:
Thibaut Courtois was wholesome sufficient to make two key saves in the course of the first half of the Champions League remaining and assist Real Madrid to a different title.
But the Belgium goalkeeper introduced in December that he would miss the Euros and has not backpedaled on his determination regardless of returning to full health for Madrid after a long-term knee damage.
There’s additionally this: There are ongoing tensions between Courtois and Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco.
Courtois questioned Tedesco’s “actuality” after the coach accused him of abandoning his teammates and faking an damage earlier than a qualifier final yr.
Without the Madrid ‘keeper, Tedesco’s selections in aim are: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) and Thomas Kaminski (Luton).
Benzema retired from France’s nationwide crew the day after “Les Bleus” misplaced the 2022 World Cup remaining with out the striker.
Then final yr he left Real Madrid for Saudi Arabian membership Al-Ittihad and now, at age 36, his days on the prime appear completed.
Benzema was awarded the Ballon d’Or because the world’s prime participant in 2022 however then missed the World Cup in Qatar that yr after tearing a left thigh muscle in pre-tournament coaching.
He additionally did not play in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup marketing campaign as a result of he was nonetheless exiled from the nationwide crew for his alleged position in a sex-tape scandal with teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
France coach Didier Deschamps has loads of choices up entrance with out Benzema, led by captain Kylian Mbappe. France’s different forwards embrace Bradley Barcola, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram.
Two extra former France starters lacking are midfielder Paul Pogba, who’s serving a doping ban, and defender Lucas Hernandez, who lately underwent surgical procedure after rupturing his left ACL.
The Manchester United striker paid the value for a disappointing season on the membership stage and did not make the lower for England coach Gareth Southgate’s preliminary 33-man choice.
Rashford managed simply eight objectives for a United crew that suffered its lowest-ever Premier League end – eighth.
The omission comes solely two seasons after Rashford had a career-best marketing campaign, scoring 34 objectives for membership and nation.
Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson – who all performed within the remaining when England misplaced to Italy in a penalty shootout in 2021 – had been additionally disregarded by Southgate.
“These are difficult calls, you are talking about players who are very good players, who have been an important part of what we have done,” Southgate said. “With Marcus, I really feel gamers in the identical space of the pitch have had higher seasons, it is so simple as that.”
Reaching the Champions League remaining wasn’t sufficient for Mats Hummels to make the squad for host Germany.
Hummels made a powerful case for inclusion along with his inspirational performances in Borussia Dortmund’s run in Europe. But Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann mentioned there have been “1,000 parts” to the choice to not embrace the veteran defender. Nagelsmann sees Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah as his most well-liked central defensive pairing – and anybody else would should be content material with a backup position.
Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is evidently content material to take the reserve position and did make the squad.
Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka was additionally disregarded, regardless of a powerful end to the Bundesliga season.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is serving a 10-month ban for betting on groups he performed for – ruling him out of consideration for defending champion Italy.
It leaves coach Luciano Spalletti with out his best choice at playmaker however opens house for the likes of Jorginho and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Tonali had appeared poised to inherit the position that after belonged to Andrea Pirlo by setting the tempo and directing the assault for Italy’s squad.
Several different Italy gamers are out injured: Domenico Berardi, Nicolo Zaniolo, Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini.
Source: www.dailysabah.com