EUROPE’s top players will not enjoy much rest this summer.
 |
| Holland shocked Europe by failing so badly in their attempts to make Euro 2016 |
After gruelling domestic campaigns, the elite of European football will descend on France for Euro 2016.
The competition this year hosts the highest number of competing nations in its 55-year history with 24 teams entering the tournament.
However, despite the expansion from the 16-team format which began at Euro 96 in England, some strong teams, rather surprisingly, missed out on qualification.
Some of the finest talent in the Premier League will be on display in France this summer, but some will be mere spectators with their feet up watching like the rest of us.
News News Blog Sport selects the best Premier League XI from the European nations who failed to qualify for Euro 2016.
 |
| Kasper Schmeichel has been superb for Leicester this season |
Goalkeeper
Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark and Leicester City)
Denmark narrowly missed out on the finals. They lost 4-3 on aggregate to Scandinavian rivals Sweden in the play-offs after finishing third in their qualifying group behind Portugal and Albania.
Their bright blonde haired keeper has excelled in between the sticks for Leicester this season and established himself in the Danish team in the last two years.
The Foxes have only kept three clean sheets up to Christmas but they are remarkably top of the top division on Christmas Day for the first in their history.
Much of that, apart from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, is down to their stalwart back line who’ve kept it tight at the back when it’s mattered most, with Schmeichel calling the shots as their last line of defence.
Unfortunately, Kasper will have to wait another four years to repeat any heroics of his father, Peter, who won Euro 1992 with Denmark.
 |
| Newcastle's Dutch right-back is one of the Toon Army's more consistent performers |
Defence
Daryl Janmaat (Holland and Newcastle United)
Holland’s failure to qualify is staggering. Aside from their 5-1 thrashing of defending champions Spain, they weren’t spectacular at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but they were one penalty shootout from making the final. They came up short as Argentina won 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final in Sao Paulo.
Their qualifying campaign for the Euros was abysmal. They finished fourth in their group, five points shy of the play-off spots, behind Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey.
Newcastle’s flying right-back Janmaat remains one of the Toon Army’s more impressive buys in recent years and he continues to perform well in a team that’s desperately struggled since he arrived from Feyenoord in 2014.
Janmaat has not featured regularly in Holland’s team this calendar year, compared to the 20 caps he won in 2013 and 2014, but he’s always selected for their squad.
 |
| Ivanovic scored against Sunderland for Chelsea in their first game since they sacked Jose Mourinho |
Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia and Chelsea)
Serbian football is facing a very difficult period in its short history with hooliganism spiralling out of control.
Despite a team full of talented players who compete across Europe’s top leagues, Serbia have failed to qualify for a major tournament since the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Ivanovic is the team’s captain, burdening a lot of responsibility with the off-field issues evidently damaging efforts on it.
The big Serb was awesome for Chelsea last season as they breezed to the Premier League title but he, like many of his teammates, have gone off the boil since August.
However, you don’t become a bad player overnight and there’s no doubt that on his day, Ivanovic is one of the strongest defenders in the Premier League.
 |
| Blind joined Louis van Gaal at Manchester United from Ajax |
Daley Blind (Holland and Manchester United)
Another talented Dutchman who’s probably as baffled as everyone about Holland’s miserable efforts to make the finals.
Blind has been one of Louis van Gaal’s most consistent performers at Old Trafford this year and taken on more responsibility with United’s defence crippled by injuries.
Since his Holland debut in 2013, the versatile 25-year-old has won more than 30 caps and he played in all seven of their games at the World Cup in Brazil last year.
Blind’s father Danny took over the failing Dutch national team in June after Chelsea’s new interim boss, Guus Hiddink, resigned but he couldn’t prevent them from missing out on Euro 2016.
 |
| Kolarov has cemented his place in Manchester City's team |
Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia and Manchester City)
Few players in Europe can boast a better left foot than Kolarov, who’s been a regular for City this season.
He’s swapped that left-back position with Gael Clichy time and time again in recent years but it appears that Manuel Pellegrini is more convinced with the Serb lining up in City’s rather shaky back four. They do miss Vincent Kompany very badly.
Kolarov is one of Serbia’s more established players and he’s won 59 caps since his debut in 2008, scoring seven goals, but he’s been helpless in preventing Serbian football slide into ignominy.
 |
| Wijnaldum has been a standout performer for Newcastle since his move from PSV |
Midfield
Georginio Wijnaldum (Holland and Newcastle United)
The Toon Army have already taken ‘Gini’ to their hearts, after the Dutch star raised the roof at St James’ Park. He joined from PSV for £14.5million in the summer – the most expensive signing under Mike Ashley.
In 15 Premier League games this season he’s scored seven from midfield, including four in a 6-2 win against Norwich and a delightful chip over former Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet in the Magpies’ 2-0 win over Liverpool earlier this month.
Wijnaldum, 24, was in the Dutch squad for last year’s World Cup in Brazil and he scored in the 3-0 win against the hosts in the third-placed play-off.
 |
| Matic was a force to behold in the Premier League for Chelsea last season |
Nemanja Matic (Serbia and Chelsea)
Matic is another Chelsea player that has inexplicably lost his way this season as Chelsea find themselves stranded towards the bottom of the Premier League.
However, he was a powerhouse for the Blues last season, dominating midfields week in, week out by winning the ball back and driving from deep to set Chelsea’s creative players free.
If the Serb can find his form again, Chelsea will instantly become a better side with his towering presence restoring the force the reigning champions had.
Matic has become a regular in Serbia’s team in the last two years and scored his first international goal this year – a spectacular overhead kick - in a 2-1 defeat against Portugal in their awful qualifying campaign for the Euros.
 |
| Eriksen has adapted to the Premier League like duck to water since his switch from Ajax |
Christian Eriksen (Denmark and Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham are very lucky to have the diminutive Danish playmaker in their side after several big European clubs were after his signature in 2013.
He joined Spurs from Ajax for £11million and has proved an excellent acquisition for the North London club since his arrival.
Eriksen adapted to the Premier League in no time and he was Spurs’ player of the year in his first season.
At just 23, he’s won 56 caps for Denmark since his debut in 2010 and he was voted Danish player of the year for 2013 and 2014.
 |
| The Serbian winger was one of the best players in the Premier League last season |
Dusan Tadic (Serbia and Southampton)
Tadic joined the Saints from FC Twente for £10.9million in 2014 as Ronald Koeman’s first signing on the south coast and the Serbian winger has justified the price tag.
Southampton excelled last season when many thought they would struggle after losing a hosts of stars to Premier League rivals and Tadic was one of the best performers as the Saints finished seventh.
The 27-year-old has been a regular in the Serbia team since 2012 and won 35 caps, scoring six goals, but he couldn’t help edge Serbia any closer to Euro 2016.
 |
| Depay is yet to light up the Premier League with Manchester United |
Attack
Memphis Depay (Holland and Manchester United)
Depay is widely regarded as the hottest property in Dutch football and his incredible efforts last season for PSV forced Louis van Gaal to bring him to Manchester United in the summer for £25million.
The 21-year-old was the top scorer in the Eredivisie with 22 goals as PSV won their 22nd Dutch title and while he wasn’t quite reached the same heights with United, the signs are there that he can blossom.
Depay has already won 20 Holland caps, scoring three goals, including two at the World Cup in Brazil last summer. He was nominated for young player of the tournament with French pair Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, narrowly missing out to Pogba who won the award.
 |
| Sunderland fans would love if Steven Fletcher really did score when he wants |
Steven Fletcher (Scotland and Sunderland)
A surprise selection perhaps but you’ll find that every other leading striker from Europe in the Premier League will be hoping to fire their country to glory at Euro 2016.
Scotland and Steven Fletcher will not fall into that category. They were close but yet again, they narrowly missed out on a major tournament.
This is a painful one for Scots if you consider that every other home nation – England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and the Republic of Ireland have all made the finals in France.
Scotland lost in Georgia towards the end of their campaign and they finished three points shy of Ireland in the play-off spot.
Fletcher divides opinions in Sunderland but there’s no doubting his quality when he’s in the mood and he scored a stunning curler to give Scotland a 2-1 lead against Poland in October, when qualification hopes were still alive, before the Poles equalised in stoppage time to break Scottish hearts.
Best Premier League XI who will miss Euro 2016: Schmeichel; Janmaat, Ivanovic, Blind, Kolarov; Wijnaldum, Matic, Eriksen, Tadic; Depay, Fletcher.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus