Haaland, Gavi, Pogba… Stars that will miss Euro 2024 and why

Euro 2024 is just around the corner and so many European football stars are gearing up to showcase their talents on the biggest European football tournament of the summer. However, there are stars who have also come in terms with the fact that they won’t be part of the competition.

The reasons for the impending absences of the big names in question are numerous and include injury, suspension, or a national team that did not qualify for the competition.

In Euro 2020, there were some high profile absentees which included Netherlands and Liverpool’s star defender who missed the tournament with an ACL injury and Zlatan Ibrahimović who missed out through a knee surgery.

This time around, we already know that a few well-known individuals are either guaranteed to miss out. Here, crispng takes a look at a few of the Superstars that will be absent from Germany.

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Injury) 

The 2022 World Cup saw Belgium’s vice captain, Thibault Courtois, earn his 100th senior international cap but his team unexpectedly crashed out of the group stage. He did, however, only manage to play in two more games just before rupturing his ACL early in the 2023–24 campaign.

With the intention of playing again before the season ends, the Real Madrid goalie resumed training in the new year. However, another knee injury requiring surgery due to a meniscus tear put a stop to that hope. With Courtois all but out of the picture going into Euro 2024, several less experienced keepers are vying for Domenico Tedesco’s first choice goalkeeper.

David Alaba’s (Austra, Injury)

This season, Courtois is not the only Real Madrid player plagued by injuries.

David Alaba’s dreams of captaining his country at the Euro 2024 are over due to an ACL injury. The flexible defender was instrumental for Austra in the qualification process, but he will not be there to guide his team in the tournament.

The veteran Los Blancos player will be sorely missed by his country as they take on a formidable group that includes France and the Netherlands.

Erling Haaland (Norway, Failure to Qualify) 

Injuries are not the only reasons why some of the most notable football stars will not be in Germany for Euro 2024. Stars like Erling Haaland has other reason and that is Norway’s failure to qualify.

Haaland tried his best; he scored six goals in the qualifying round to boost his career total to 27 goals in 30 international matches. However, Norway only managed three wins out of eight qualifying matches.

Gavi (Spain, Injury) 

Many young stars will get the chance to experience their first major competition in the 2024 Euros. However, Gavi will miss this year’s euro due to injury.

Gavi, who is only 19 years old but already a consistent starter for both club and country and has already earned 27 senior caps for Spain. He scored twice in qualification, in wins over Cyprus and Norway.

However, in the final qualifier against Georgia in November, he appeared to damage his cruciate ligament, which appears to have sidelined him until next season.

Paul Pogba (France, Suspension) 

There is another explanation for why certain players will not compete in Euro 2024. In addition to injuries and qualifying failures, certain well-known players are under suspension and that will make them sit out the event.

The former Manchester United, had already missed most of his first season back in Italy after rejoining Juventus due to injuries. He also missed the 2022 World Cup. But because of the four-year ban he got for failing a drug test, Paul Pogba won’t be playing any part in France’s Euro 2024 journey.

Sandro Toneli (Italy, Suspension)

Another big star who will have to watch his fellow countrymen from the sidelines is Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United. Although Italy, the current champions, qualified for Euro 2024, the former Milan player will not travel to Germany to play.

Similar to Pogba, Tonali will miss out due to suspension. However, the 23 year old Italian international will be playing football again before the Frenchman does because he is waiting for his suspension for breaking betting laws to expire in August 2024.

Martin Odegaard (Norway, failure to qualify)

Premier League midfielders don’t come much better than Martin Odegaard. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to showcase his amazing technique and poise at Euro 2024.

Odegaard, though, will be frustrated that his Norway team did not advance out of their group—Scotland, Spain, and Georgia all made it to the tournament. By his own standards, the former Real Madrid wonderkid’s two goal contributions for his country during the qualification process is incredibly underwhelming.

Victor Lindelof (Sweden, Failure to qualify) 

Having placed third in their qualification group, behind Austria and Belgium, Sweden was unable to advance to Euro 2024.

Although the Swedish team has several players with excellent technical skills, the team’s performance in the qualifying round was lacklustre, and Lindelof was unable to shore up a defence that gave up 12 goals in eight games.

Also read: Spain, Portugal… List of countries qualified for Euro 2024