Euro 2024 is almost set to begin in only 3 weeks, with the group stage starting on June 14th. That’s obviously great news for fans, but for some managers and teams, it can be a serious concern. Some players are already out due to injuries, with ACL tears being a major concern for future players, while others are ruled out due to suspension or other reasons. Let’s look at the 10 biggest players who will be missing out on Euro 2024.
Thibaut Courtois – Belgium
One of the star players who will miss out on Euro 2024 for the Belgium national football team is Thibaut Courtois. Even after tearing his ACL in his left knee and damaging the internal meniscus in his right on March 19th, he has returned to play for Real Madrid.
However, the goalkeeper will not play in Euro 2024 because of a very public feud with his Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco. The pair fell out last summer, with Tedesco claiming that Courtois missed the Euro 2024 qualifier with Estonia because he was upset at not being given the captain’s armband.
Gavi – Spain
Barcelona’s and Spain’s young midfielder, Gavi, suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his knee during a Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia. This severe injury has ruled him out of the tournament, depriving Spain of one of their brightest talents in the midfield.
“It is a very difficult and very hard moment for Gavi and Barça, but also for the national team and me,” said Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente at the time.
Paul Pogba – France
Paul Pogba is set to miss out on a second successive major tournament due to the four-year suspension he received after a failed drug test. The French midfielder also sat out the 2022 World Cup due to injury, and this time, it is due to a suspension, preventing him from playing any part for France in Euro 2024, as evident from EURO 2024 betting odds.
The star is planning to appeal to CAS regarding his suspension and said following the ruling, “When I am free of legal restrictions, the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.”
David Alaba – Austria
David Alaba was one of the three players in Real Madrid to tear an ACL this season, but unlike his teammates, he never had any chance of returning before the end of the season. The Austrian defender suffered his injury in December, and given the expected recovery timeline of 8 months, it is quite clear that Alaba won’t be making any appearance in Euro 2024.
Erling Haaland – Norway
Norway’s disappointing performance in the qualifiers has left them out of this Euro 2024, meaning the team and Erling Haaland will not be involved in Euro 2024. Haaland contributed significantly by scoring six goals during the qualifiers, raising his international goal count to 27 in 30 appearances. Despite his efforts, Norway’s campaign failed in its defence, with the team conceding 12 goals over eight matches. Ultimately, Norway secured just three wins in their qualifiers, which wasn’t enough to advance to Euro 2024.
Sandro Tonali – Italy
Just like Paul Pogba, Sandro Tonali will also miss out on Euro 2024 due to suspension. The Italian midfielder was suspended for 10 months for breaching betting regulations but is set to return in August 2024. His suspension was a major disappointment for Italy since he was crucial for a starting spot in Luciano Spalletti’s team.
Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso said,
…“Sandro is playing his most important game – against betting addiction. He’s in shock, very sad. He has to face this. He knows he made a mistake and is quite shaken. But he understands that he must face the matter with determination”…
