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League football might be coming to an end, but summer brings us one of the biggest footballing spectacles in the form of the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2020).
Some of the biggest stars in world football will hope to make their presence felt. France's strength and depth has been well-covered, while the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Spain will all hope to make an impact.
Some players, however, have already announced that they will not be taking part. The Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk, Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Germany's Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marco Reus will not be gracing the football field due to various injury issues.
We look at 5 players who face a race against time to be fit for the Euros 2020.
#5 Julian Baumgartlinger (Bayer Leverkusen / Austria)
The captain of the Austria national team, Julian Baumgartlinger, is a serious doubt to feature at Euro 2020 this summer.
Baumgartlinger has been a consistent presence for Bayer Leverkusen since his arrival in 2016 from Mainz. The 33-year old, however, suffered a serious knee injury against Wolfsburg in January and has been out of action ever since.
The midfielder, who is good on the ball and a strong tackler, started 12 games in the Bundesliga before his injury. Austria national team manager Franco Foda is yet to announce the squad for Euro 2020 and if Baumgartlinger does not feature, the likes of Hoffenheim's Florian Grillitsch and Wolfsburg's Xaver Schlager might have to step up in midfield.
#4 Daley Blind (Ajax / The Netherlands)
One of the most underrated players in Europe, Daley Blind has been a vital cog for club and country for some time now.
The 31-year old is an excellent passer and is renowned for his versatility. Blind can play as a centre-back, left-back and in defensive midfield. The former Manchester United man was injured while on national duty in March and has not featured for Ajax since.
Blind was named in the preliminary Euro 2020 squad by Netherlands national team manager Frank de Boer. With Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk not available, Blind's potential absence could prove to be a big problem for the Netherlands. It also puts more pressure on 21-year old Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.
Also Read: 5 biggest mistakes made by Barcelona this season (2020/21)
#3 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool / England)
Jordan Henderson has been a mainstay in the England midfield for some time now and England boss Gareth Southgate will be keen to include him in the final squad if possible.
Henderson, who has often been utilized as a centre-back this season by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, was injured during a game against Everton in February. Klopp has confirmed the 30-year old will not feature for Liverpool again this season, although he could be fit for the Euros.
The midfielder's experience and leadership at the centre of the park has been highly appreciated. England have the likes of West Ham United's Declan Rice and Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips, but Henderson will surely be a starter at the Euros for his country if he is declared fit.
#2 Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain / Italy)
Marco Verratti's quality is undeniable, and his importance to the Paris Saint-Germain midfield cannot be understated.
Having joined Paris Saint-Germain from Pescara in 2012, Verratti has made 346 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 giants. A few days ago, the club announced that the 28-year old had suffered an injury which could potentially jeopardise his participation at the Euros.
The midfielder has been named in Italy's preliminary squad by manager Roberto Mancini. Italy do not lack talent in midfield, with Sassuolo's Manuel Locatelli, Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella and Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini all available. However, Verratti will be a crucial miss if he is not named in the final squad.
#1 Harry Maguire (Manchester United / England)
Harry Maguire's recent absence due to injury has shown how vulnerable Manchester United's defense is without their captain.
Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City in 2019 for £80 million, making him the most expensive centre-back in the world. The 28-year old has been ever-present for the Old Trafford outfit since his arrival. His injury against Aston Villa ten days ago has served as an eye-opener for fans and critics regarding his importance to the Manchester United set-up.
The 28-year old is a ball-playing centre-back with excellent aerial ability. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted the hopes Maguire will be back for Manchester United's encounter against Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League final, although nothing is certain at this stage.
Also Read: 5 most expensive attacking midfielders of all time
