Representing your country in an international tournament is a matter of immense pride. With many of the European Leagues flushed with competition and revenue, they’re a large number of successful and established footballers that aren’t really considered good enough to get national team call-ups and it always pains them throughout their careers.
Mikel Arteta, for instance, was an extremely good and consistent midfielder, had a distinguished career in the Premier League but couldn’t get a single cap for Spain. They’re several other examples of players like him who’ve never been able to make their dreams of playing for their country a reality despite making it as a professional footballer.
Even established players find it hard to keep their places in the national team, especially in the powerhouse countries of European football because of the constant competition and flurry of talented players their nation produces.
In this piece, we’ll take a look at some of the players who were lucky to get called up to their national team squads for Euro 2016, some of whom may yet go on to make a significant impact on the tournament.
1) Daniele De Rossi - Italy
It might seem odd to see a player of his stature and experience in this list, but the truth is that the Roma dynamo would have missed out on the Italy squad if not for a spate of injuries to their best midfielders.
The Roma legend was ignored by Conte along with Andrea Pirlo for several matches and it seemed both of the mainstays of the Italian midfield from the last decade or so would now be replaced.
But injuries to Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo meant that Italy were bare in numbers and experience in the middle of the park and the Roma midfield general had to be called upon. He didn’t disappoint in the game against the Belgians, even if he doesn’t yet have 90 minutes in his legs and is still reaching full fitness. If he reaches the levels that we all know he’s capable off, he’ll be a ferocious presence in the middle of the park for the Italians.
2) Hector Bellerin - Spain
Just coming off a breakthrough season with Arsenal, Bellerin would have been disappointed to miss out on the initial squad but there could hardly be much shame in being behind players like Juanfran and Dani Carvajal in the pecking order.
Carvajal, the Real Madrid right-back got injured, and Bellerin was called up, cancelling his vacation plans at the last minute to be available for Spain.
He’s expressed his delight at being able to a part of the squad and will be more than ready if called upon, as he’s constantly demonstrated in the great season he’s just had with Arsenal. Bellerin would be a good replacement for Juanfran, if he were to get injured or not be able to perform well in France and would bomb up and down the Spainsh right wing with his typical energy and pace.
3) Adil Rami - France
The Sevilla defender is perhaps the most fortunate of this bunch. Even though the former Milan player has had a good season with Sevilla, it took injuries to Aymeric Laporte, Raphael Varane, Jeremy Mathieu, Kurt Zouma and for Mamadou Sakho to fail a drugs test for him to find a place in the squad.
As luck would have it, the French defender also started for the team in their opening Euro 2016 game against Romania. It represents a massive ascent from the struggles he had at Milan, (his former team) to having won the Europa League for Sevilla and to now find himself playing for Les Blues in the Euros.
He is certainly a more than capable defender, solid and robust in the air and decent with the ball at his feet and will look to make the most of his lucky break and cement his place in history.
4) Lucas Vazquez - Spain
The 24-year-old Real Madrid product has had more than a decent season for Los Blancos but even he would have been surprised to find himself in Spain’s final 23.
Surpassing the likes of Fernando Torres; who’s just come off a great season with Atletico Madrid, Paco Alcacer, a consistent performer for the national team and Isco, his precociously talented Madrid teammate is something no one would have expected.
Vazquez has been taken to France for his versatility and will be delirious that he finds himself a part of the Spain camp. With 32 appearances in all competitions for a Real Madrid side that has a stunning array of talent, Vazquez certainly knows how to get in his manager’s good books.
5) Lukas Podolski - Germany
Podolski is the second name on this list as a player who’s achieved enormous success with his country in the past. He’s been one of those players who’s performed better for his country than his clubs and the memories of his devastating left foot will still be fresh in the minds of the fans of the German team.
At 31-years-old though, after failed stints at Inter Milan and an underwhelming stint with Arsenal, Podolski has been off the footballing map for a while. He hasn’t been able to settle at a club and have a consistent season for a quite a while.
He does have a decent scoring record this year with Galatasaray but the fact that he finds himself in the German squad is more to a lack of striking options that they have at their disposal. If he is called upon though, watch out for that left foot!
