Euro 2016: Karim Benzema, Marco Reus, Santi Cazorla and more – the best players you will not be seeing at the Euros
There truly are some notable omissions
IT'S NEARLY HERE! Euro 2016 kicks off next week and while many of the finest players in the game today will be strutting their stuff on the main stage, there are some notable absentees for the big tournament.
Here SunSport looks at the best players who will NOT be playing in France.
MARCO REUS (GERMANY)
With 108 caps to his name and a constant linking to the Premier League's big guns, it came as a major surprise that the winger was dropped by Jurgen Low for Germany’s final 23-man squad. Why? Because of previous injuries. Coach Low said: “Marco has serious health problems. At the moment, he can only run in a straight line”.
KARIM BENZEMA (FRANCE)
The Real Madrid ace is suspended indefinitely by France, with Les Bleus president Noel le Graet saying that he had “done something really stupid” over the Mathieu Valbuena sex-tape affair. Benzema scored 28 goals for Real Madrid last season. The hosts will miss him.
SANTI CAZORLA (SPAIN)
Arsenal playmaker Cazorla recovered from a long-term Achilles injury to play in the Gunners' final Premier League match of the season – but it wasn’t enough for him to battle back into Spain’s midfield-heavy 23-man squad.
JUAN MATA (SPAIN)
Another talented Premier League playmaker that won't be at the Euros. Manchester United’s Juan Mata has not been picked by Vicente Del Bosque and will not be adding to his 41 caps in France.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (DENMARK)
There will be no Denmark at Euro 2016 – meaning there will be no Christian Eriksen. The Spurs star was outstanding for Tottenham as they battled for the Premier League title – but the Danes, surprise winners of the tournament in 1992, failed to qualify for this summer’s competition.
DANNY DRINKWATER (ENGLAND)
A starring role in Leicester City’s shock charge to the Premier League title was not enough to warrant Danny Drinkwater a place at the Euros. There was much furore from fans after Drinkwater was not picked and Arsenal's Jack Wilshere was. Drinkwater played 32 more Premier League games than Wilshere.
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DANNY WELBECK (ENGLAND)
The Arsenal man would have been a shoo-in for Roy Hodgson’s England squad, but a knee injury last month in the Gunners 2-2 draw with Manchester City meant an agonisingly nine months on the sidelines.
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN (ARMENIA)
With no Armenia at the Euros, Borussia Dortmund assist-machine Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be able to showcase the skills which have seen him catch the eye of Arsenal and Chelsea.
ARJEN ROBBEN (HOLLAND)
Now 32, it appears the Bayern Munich wing wizard will be robbed of the chance of appearing in his final major tournament after the Dutch failed to show their class in qualifying.
MIRALEM PJANIC (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)
One the brightest stars in European football, but the silky playmaker will be nowhere near France this summer, after the Bosnians failed to make it.
VINCENT KOMPANY (BELGIUM)
Manchester City’s captain endured a frustrating, injury-ravaged season, and will miss the chance to lead the Red Devils to Euro glory after a calf injury ruled him out.
MARCO VERRATTI (ITALY)
Combative midfielder misses out after having to undergo a groin operation – he made just 18 appearances for the French champions PSG in this campaign – playing the full 90 minutes only six times.
KURT ZOUMA (FRANCE)
An horrific knee injury suffered against Manchester United back in February means the Chelsea man will play no part at the home tournament. His middle name, Happy, is currently far from apt.
ILKAY GUNDOGAN (GERMANY)
The box-to-box midfielder dislocated his knee cap in training last month, but he still completed his £21m move to Manchester City, becoming Pep Guardiola's first signing.
LUKE SHAW (ENGLAND)
The England left-back was not able to recover from the leg break that he suffered so early into the season, playing for Manchester United against PSV in the Champions League in September.
