There’s just 30 days to go until the start of Euro 2016 and as the various championships across Europe come to a close, it’s time for the 24 national team coaches who’ve qualified for France, to put the finishing touches to their respective squads. Unfortunately, the tournament at the moment could be remembered as the one that was missing some of Europe’s best players as injuries take their toll.
 

Antonio Conte is already without arguably his two best midfield players as both Marco Verratti (groin) and Claudio Marchisio (cruciate knee ligaments) start their respective road to recoveries. Add to this the withdrawal of goalkeeper Mattia Perin with a serious knee injury and the Azzurri are already handicapped in their quest to go one better this time around than in 2012 when they were runners-up to Spain.  

Germany coach Joachim Loew also has midfield casualties before the big kick-off next month; Bastian Schweinsteiger is missing but his biggest blow comes in the shape of Ilkay Gundogan who broke his knee-cap in training last week. The hosts are also suffering injuries with defenders Kurt Zouma and Aymeric Laporte both missing for Didier Deschamps French side.
 

Italy’s first opponents in France are missing their inspirational captain after Vincent Kompany withdrew from the Belgian squad whilst Portugal cannot call upon Dani after his cruciate injury and Fabio Coentrao, who has a muscle problem. England’s number two goalkeeper Jack Butland is out and so is left-back Luke Shaw, who suffered a horrific leg-break playing for Manchester United against PSV. Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the latest withdrawal from Roy Hodgson’s squad.  

Swiss striker Josip Drmic, Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley and Northern Ireland wide-man Chris Brunt will also stay home this summer with serious doubts also about the participation of Germany’s Julian Draxler and Emre Can. Footballs big summer extravaganza is missing some of its key components and it’s hoped that there’s no more to add to the list.


Original article by Andrea Distaso. Translation by Steve Mitchell