Which players will miss out on Euro 2024? Notable absences include Erling Haaland, Victor Lindelof, and Stefan Savic.
Players Absent from Euro 2024: The Unexpected Exclusions
Erling Haaland, the prolific goal-scorer for Manchester City with an impressive record of 49 goals in just 47 Premier League appearances, will surprisingly be absent from Europe’s grand football spectacle next summer. Unfortunately for Haaland and his Norway team, they have failed to qualify for Euro 2024 – a familiar disappointment as they have not participated in a major tournament since the distant year of 2000.
In this article, we explore some of the notable players who will not grace Germany’s fields during the months of June and July when Italy defends its title. Despite being a triumphant Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup Treble winner, Haaland’s success on domestic soil does not guarantee him a spot at Euros. Although he contributed six out of Norway’s total of 14 qualifying goals, names like Kylian Mbappe (France), Harry Kane (England), and Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium) are expected to take center stage while representing their respective countries at Euro 2024.
Haaland’s absence also means that his international teammate Martin Odegaard will miss out on the tournament as well. Arsenal captain Odegaard showcased his talent by scoring Norway’s second goal in their crucial qualifying win against Georgia on September 12th. However, despite this victory, Norway finished third in Group A – trailing behind Scotland by six points; thus denying them a ticket to Germany.
Another player whose absence may come as a surprise is Victor Lindelof from Manchester United. Lindelof played an integral role in Sweden reaching the knockout stages at Euro 2020 but unfortunately saw his nation finish third in their qualification group for Euro 2024 – ten points adrift from winners Belgium and nine points behind Austria.
Dejan Kulusevski, the talented winger from Tottenham Hotspur, will also have an unexpected summer off due to Sweden’s failure to qualify this time around. Despite starting all eight of Sweden’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches and contributing with a goal and two assists, Kulusevski will not be showcasing his skills on the European stage.
Alexander Isak made headlines when he helped Newcastle secure a memorable 4-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League during September. The young forward became Sweden’s youngest-ever goalscorer at just 17 years old in January 2017. Unfortunately, despite these achievements, Isak won’t have the opportunity to represent his nation at Euro 2024.
Stefan Savic has experienced success both in England and Spain as a Premier League winner with Manchester City and La Liga & Europa League champion with Atletico Madrid respectively. As part of Montenegro’s squad for Euro 2024 qualifying, Savic even managed to contribute a couple of goals; however, it was not enough as they finished behind Hungary and Serbia.
Evan Ferguson may only be 19 years old but already holds the distinction of scoring a hat-trick for Brighton against Newcastle in the Premier League – an impressive feat indeed. His talent showed promise when he became Ireland’s youngest scorer since Robbie Keane after netting against Latvia in March; sadly though, Ireland finished fourth in their qualifying group meaning Ferguson misses out on this tournament.
Jonny Evans remains an influential figure within Northern Ireland football despite turning thirty-six next year. However, Northern Ireland failed to secure qualification for Euro 2024 after suffering seven defeats throughout their ten qualification matches.
Last but certainly not least is Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona striker extraordinaire known for his exceptional goal-scoring prowess. At thirty-six years old, he will bear the weight of Poland’s qualification hopes on his shoulders. They face an uphill battle to secure their place in Euro 2024.
These unexpected exclusions serve as a reminder that even for accomplished players, success does not always guarantee participation at the Euros. As we eagerly await Euro 2024 next summer, these notable omissions add another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a thrilling tournament.