With domestic football finished for another season, everyone’s attention now turns to the European Championships this summer. With just under a week to go until Germany and Scotland do battle in the opening fixture, excitement is rapidly building, as each country begins to dream about European glory.
Each country has submitted their final 26-man squad, and there are a huge number of stars missing out due to injury – some which could completely change the outcome of the tournament!
Let’s take a look at the biggest stars from each group who are NOT going to play at EURO 2024 this summer due to injury, and keep reading to find our Best XI of players who will play no part in this summer’s tournament.
Group A (Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland)
In Group A, heavy favourites to top the group, and tournament hosts Germany, will have to do so without ex-Arsenal star Serge Gnabry. The Bayern Munich winger suffered a devastating hamstring injury after just 27 minutes in their UEFA Champions League final second leg defeat to Real Madrid which has ruled him out of this summer’s tournament. Despite this big miss, Germany’s squad is still stacked with Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga talent, and they should be confident of topping Group A and progressing to the knockout stages.
The team facing the biggest injury crisis in Group A is Scotland. With the odds already stacked against them in their group, they recently lost QPR forward Lyndon Dykes to an ankle injury suffered in training, which has hampered their chances of qualifying from Group A even further. Alongside Dykes, Bologna star Lewis Ferguson has also been ruled out with an ACL injury, and Premier League stars Ben Doak, Nathan Patterson, and Aaron Hickey are also going to miss the tournament due to injury.
The final two teams that make up Group A are Switzerland and Hungary, and both of which have had the luxury of no major squad omissions because of injury. For the Swiss, star striker Breel Embolo has made the squad despite suffering a hamstring injury late in the season for AS Monaco, one which ruled him out of the last few games. Manager Murat Yakin will be hoping Embolo’s hamstring has recovered fully in time for their opening fixture. Their opponents in that game, Hungary, are also sweating over the fitness of Attila Fiola who has been included in their squad despite suffering a shoulder injury during training at the start of May.
Overall, it is Scotland who have faced the worst luck regarding injuries in the build up to EURO 2024 out of Group A, but they will be hoping that their passionate fans and their never-say-die attitude will carry them through their tough set of fixtures. Even without Serge Gnabry, Germany will be confident that they can top the group, and potentially even go all the way.
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Group B (Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania)
Group B favourites Spain will be without their highly-rated young midfielder Gavi for the EUROs after he suffered an ACL injury while on international duty last November. He will be a huge miss for Luis de la Fuente’s side who will be aiming to win their first European Championship since Vincente Del Bosque’s star-studded team won this tournament in 2012. Alongside Gavi, Villarreal youngster Yeremy Pino is also out of the tournament with an ACL injury, Valencia fullback Jose Gaya is out with a recurring hamstring injury, and former Real Madrid star Isco suffered a broken leg late on in the season and will therefore also miss the tournament.
Holders Italy have also been hit with an injury crisis prior to their defence of the crown. Talented defender Giorgio Scalvini will miss the tournament after a heartbreaking ACL injury with just 6 minutes left of the season. Along with him, manager Luciano Spalletti will be without Tottenham star Destiny Udogie (muscle injury), Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi (groin), Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi (achilles), and Aston Villa midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo (foot fracture), with all four suffering injuries which will rule them out of the tournament completely.
The final two teams in Group B are Croatia and Albania, with neither side facing any major injury woes before the tournament. Croatia will be hoping their blend of experience and youth will guide them through to the knockout stage and potentially further, while Albania know they have a mighty task on their hands if they want to even gain a point out of this tournament. With no major injury worries, they will be confident in their squad’s ability, however, despite the injuries to Spain and Italy, qualifying from Group B still looks like a huge ask for former Arsenal defender, and now Albania manager, Sylvinho’s team.
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Group C (England, Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia)
In Group C, England are the heavy favourites to qualify top of the group, however, they will have to do so without national team mainstay Harry Maguire, after the Manchester United defender was dropped from the squad after suffering a calf injury. Alongside Maguire, Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings who started England’s opening fixture at EURO 2020 will also miss out having suffered an ACL injury on the opening day of the Premier League season, and back-up goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is missing with an elbow injury.
The overall health of Group C is fairly strong, with no major omissions from the remaining three team’s squads. Slovenia were sweating over the fitness of Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovric after he suffered a thigh injury late on in the season, but he has been included in the squad. Similarly, Srjdan Babic (hamstring) gave Serbia a late scare but recovered in good time to be included in their squad. The final team which makes up Group C is Denmark who have a fully clean bill of health ahead of the tournament.
Overall, Harry Maguire is the biggest miss from Group C, having been likely to start every game for tournament favourites and last tournament’s runners-up, England. Despite this miss, Gareth Southgate will still be confident in his squad’s ability to qualify top of this group, and potentially go all the way this year.
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Group D (France, Netherlands, Poland, Austria)
Group D could be blown wide open due to the injuries suffered by group heavyweights France and the Netherlands. Some major omissions from Les Bleus include Chelsea stars Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku who have both recently overcome season-interrupting injuries, but deemed not ready by coach Didier Deschamps. Along with the Chelsea pair, PSG defender Lucas Hernandez suffered a heartbreaking ACL injury during their Champions League semi final defeat to Borussia Dortmund. This will be extra gutting for Hernandez, who missed the 2022 World Cup because of the same injury. For the Netherlands, it’s Newcastle defender Sven Botman, and Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon who are the biggest absences. Botman is out due to an ACL injury, while de Roon will miss the tournament thanks to a muscle injury suffered in the Coppa Italia final.
The remaining teams in Group D who will be looking to capitalise on these absences are Austria and Poland. However, both are dealing with significant injuries of their own. Austria will be without captain and star player, David Alaba for the EUROs after he suffered an ACL injury in December, while Poland will be without striker Arkadiusz Milik after he suffered a knee injury in a warm up game against Ukraine. Other notable absentees from Group D include Premier League stars Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, and Jurrien Timber.
With all 4 teams in this group affected by injury, time will tell how big of an impact this has on how Group D plays out.
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Group E (Ukraine, Slovakia, Belgium, Romania)
In Group E, group favourites Belgium have made the unusual decision to travel to Germany with a squad which actually includes injuries. Former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has been named in the squad despite currently dealing with a groin injury, and so has Arthur Theate, who is currently battling an ankle issue. To make matters worse, the Red Devils also lost Thomas Meunier early on in their final warm up game against Luxembourg with a muscle injury, and he is now a doubt for the tournament too.
Elsewhere in the group, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania will be hoping to capitalise on Belgium’s injury ridden squad, and with no major injury concerns, an upset could definitely be on the cards in this group. For Ukraine, Everton defender Vitaly Mykolenko was the biggest injury concern ahead of the tournament, but he has successfully recovered from injury in time and has been named in the squad. For Romania, Olimpiu Morutan will miss the tournament with a ruptured achilles, a fairly big miss for Edward Iordănescu’s side, but a manageable one with the quality they still have in this position, and for Slovakia, Lubomir Satka hasn’t made the squad after suffering an ankle injury, but otherwise it is a clean bill of health for Francesco Calzona’s side.
Even with the notable absentees, Belgium will feel they have enough firepower to still qualify top of the group, however it remains to be seen whether the risk of waiting for players to recover from injury will pay off or not.
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Group F (Portugal, Czechia, Georgia, Turkey)
Portugal are the favourites to qualify top of Group F, with many fans even tipping them to even go all the way in the tournament. However, if they want to win EURO 2024, eight years after claiming glory in France in 2016, they will have to do so without star man Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate, Otavio, after he recently suffered a muscle injury. Aside from Otavio, manager Roberto Martinez has a fully fit squad to choose from, and will be confident in his side’s chances of topping Group F.
Turkey are the team who are suffering the most in Group F, with some big household names confirmed to be missing the tournament. Former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak will not play at EURO 2024 after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in his knee. Former Leicester defender Caglar Soyuncu is also out after picking up a thigh injury, and Bournemouth striker Enes Unal has a fractured toe and will not participate either. These three will be a big miss to Turkey, and could be the difference between them qualifying in 2nd or having to battle it out to be a top 3rd place qualifier.
The remaining two teams in Group F are Czechia and Georgia, and both have the luxury of entering the tournament with no major injury concerns. Both countries will have their star men, Patrick Schick and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia available for the tournament, and are hopeful that they, along with a fully fit squad, can fire them to Group F qualification, and potentially even further.
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Summary & Advice
With just a few days left until the action kicks off in Germany, excitement is rapidly building across Europe. Ideal starting XIs are being drafted, top goalscorer predictions are being made, and tournament trees are being drawn up and stuck to kitchen fridges. However, spare a thought for those players who, like us, will be watching the tournament from home this summer. ACL tears, muscle strains, foot injuries and more have ended the dreams of many footballers who were hoping to represent their country at this summers EUROs, and have impacted their countries chances of claiming glory at the same time.
Dealing with a major injury can be difficult, especially when it interrupts your daily life, and stops you from doing the things you love best. If you are suffering with an injury, are currently in the rehabilitation stage of an injury, or just want to know how best to deal with an injury should you be in this position one day, be sure to check out the PhysioRoom blog, where our team of experts give advice and guidance on dealing with different injuries, and the best recovery methods, for example: Common Football Injuries Explored.
Additionally, for high quality physiotherapy products, and injury supports and braces which are trusted by the NHS and private physiotherapists, be sure to check out the PhysioRoom website. With 20+ years of experience as the UK’s leading injury, rehabilitation, and fitness website, we are confident that you will find what you need with us!
Injured XI
Take a look at this star-studded XI, made up of players who will MISS this summer’s EURO 2024 tournament. Is there anyone you would replace in this lineup? Where would this team finish in EURO 2024?
GK: Sam Johnstone (Elbow Injury)
LB: Lucas Hernandez (ACL Injury)
CB: Sven Botman (ACL Injury)
CB: Harry Maguire (Muscle Injury)
RB: David Alaba (ACL Injury)
LM: Otavio (Muscle Injury)
CM: Marten de Roon (Knee Injury)
CM: Gavi (ACL Injury)
RM: Serge Gnabry (Hamstring Injury)
ST: Lyndon Dykes (Ankle Injury)
ST: Enes Unal (Toe Injury)