Stars left out of Euro 2008
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| Raúl and David Trezeguet excluded from Euro 2008 |
There are several top players missing in this year’s European Championship.
Big names and good reputations don't come with any guarantees as their national team coaches already made the decision that kept them from making the trip to Austria and Switzerland.
The list include Raúl González, David Trezeguet, Filippo Inzaghi, Pavel Nedved, Maniche, Hakan Şükür and Clarence Seedorf.
Raúl is Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals and the most capped player with 102 appearances for his country.
However, Raúl has been out of Spain’s plans since September 2006 when La Furia Roja lost 3-2 to Northern Ireland in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
Spanish coach Luis Aragones has publicly said he doesn't believe in Raúl anymore, even though he has been superb with Real Madrid this season and scored 18 goals.
Aragones prefers to lay hopes on younger players, especially on Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Trezeguet has been an important part of France’s success in recent years, including Euro 2000 and 1998 World Cup titles.
Trezeguet, nicknamed Trezegol, has scored 34 goals for his country and notched 20 goals for Juventus this season.
But two years ago, in the World Cup Final against Italy, he was the only player missed the penalty in the shoot-out.
Therefore he was left off the team for two Euro qualifiers in 2007.
Former Porto midfielder Maniche playing a key role in Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup.
However, the 30-year-old found himself out of a spot on the Portuguese team for Euro 2008.
Over the last four years, he has played at four different clubs but unable to establish himself at either of those clubs.
Other players were left out because of their age.
AC Milan striker Inzaghi scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and has scored 25 goals in 57 appearances for the Azzurri.
Although part of the Italian qualifying team, the 35-year-old, was denied by Roberto Donadoni's decision.
Juventus and Czech Republic ace Nedved, 35, retired from the national team after the 2006 World Cup.
Nedved, who played in the 1996 European Championship final, refused an offer from coach Karel Bruckner to return for this event.
Dutch star Seedorf, who has scored 11 goals for the Netherlands, removed himself out of the tournament after he criticized coach Marco Van Basten and determined he couldn't work with him.
Turkish all-time leading scorer with 51 goals, Hakan Şükür, did not make the trip as well.
Şükür has been the icon of Turkish football for many years, but coach Fatih Terim seems to have ended his era in Turkish football.
Alexander Kerzhakov was the surprise exception from Russia squad.
He was a UEFA Cup winner side with Sevilla, but then he returned to Russia just to be observed by the national coach Guus Hiddink.
But apparently he couldn’t impress the Dutch and Hiddink left out the Dynamo Moscow man for dubious Pavel Progrebnyak.
That was just another case that not everyone will be so lucky because even you playing well and helping your team it doesn't assure your place in the squad.
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Big names and good reputations don't come with any guarantees as their national team coaches already made the decision that kept them from making the trip to Austria and Switzerland.
The list include Raúl González, David Trezeguet, Filippo Inzaghi, Pavel Nedved, Maniche, Hakan Şükür and Clarence Seedorf.
Raúl is Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals and the most capped player with 102 appearances for his country.
However, Raúl has been out of Spain’s plans since September 2006 when La Furia Roja lost 3-2 to Northern Ireland in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
Spanish coach Luis Aragones has publicly said he doesn't believe in Raúl anymore, even though he has been superb with Real Madrid this season and scored 18 goals.
Aragones prefers to lay hopes on younger players, especially on Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Trezeguet has been an important part of France’s success in recent years, including Euro 2000 and 1998 World Cup titles.
Trezeguet, nicknamed Trezegol, has scored 34 goals for his country and notched 20 goals for Juventus this season.
But two years ago, in the World Cup Final against Italy, he was the only player missed the penalty in the shoot-out.
Therefore he was left off the team for two Euro qualifiers in 2007.
Former Porto midfielder Maniche playing a key role in Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup.
However, the 30-year-old found himself out of a spot on the Portuguese team for Euro 2008.
Over the last four years, he has played at four different clubs but unable to establish himself at either of those clubs.
Other players were left out because of their age.
AC Milan striker Inzaghi scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and has scored 25 goals in 57 appearances for the Azzurri.
Although part of the Italian qualifying team, the 35-year-old, was denied by Roberto Donadoni's decision.
Juventus and Czech Republic ace Nedved, 35, retired from the national team after the 2006 World Cup.
Nedved, who played in the 1996 European Championship final, refused an offer from coach Karel Bruckner to return for this event.
Dutch star Seedorf, who has scored 11 goals for the Netherlands, removed himself out of the tournament after he criticized coach Marco Van Basten and determined he couldn't work with him.
Turkish all-time leading scorer with 51 goals, Hakan Şükür, did not make the trip as well.
Şükür has been the icon of Turkish football for many years, but coach Fatih Terim seems to have ended his era in Turkish football.
Alexander Kerzhakov was the surprise exception from Russia squad.
He was a UEFA Cup winner side with Sevilla, but then he returned to Russia just to be observed by the national coach Guus Hiddink.
But apparently he couldn’t impress the Dutch and Hiddink left out the Dynamo Moscow man for dubious Pavel Progrebnyak.
That was just another case that not everyone will be so lucky because even you playing well and helping your team it doesn't assure your place in the squad.
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Concealed Mind
Maniche yes. As a Portugal fan I think he was needed. I would have preferred Scolari calling up Maniche instead of Petit. Maniche and Deco could have been like Xavi and Iniesta of Spain's midfield. I don't get it. Maniche had played regularly with Inter in the Serie A, loads of experience.