Midfield
Italy will be without one of their brightest prospects at Euro 2016 with Marco Verratti sidelined for the summer tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain man was instrumental in helping his club wrap up the Ligue 1 title in March, even though he was out of action between February and April.
A groin injury will see him miss the final stages of the season, the French Cup final and the Euros. The Azzurri midfielder, who many consider to be Andrea Pirlo’s heir, will have a surgery which will keep him out of action for eight weeks.
If that wasn’t bad news enough for Italy, they will also be without Claudio Marchisio. The Juventus midfielder was yet another victim of a knee injury that saw him tear his ligaments in a game against Palermo in April. Although he had a successful surgery, the 30-year-old Italian will be out for six months.
While Germany still sweat over the fitness of captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, they will certainly be without the services of Ilkay Gundogan. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder dislocated his kneecap in training and the club confirmed that he was out for the rest of the season and would also miss Euro 2016.
The injury also throws a spanner in the works with respect to his proposed transfer to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola is said to have been interested in bringing him to the Etihad but the injury may see him think twice before signing the German international.
Russia will be without Denis Cheryshev for Euro after he was ruled out with a thigh injury. The 25-year-old, on loan at Valencia from Real Madrid, suffered the injury in a game against Atletico Madrid back in March. Although he returned to the squad, he suffered a recurrence of the injury again in a defeat to Villarreal.
A surgery will see Cheryshev ruled out of Euro as he returns to Madrid for his rehabilitation under the watchful eye of the club’s medical department.
Arsenal’s injury crisis is a story that refuses to die every season and the latest player to suffer a long-term injury was young Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yet another victim of a knee injury, the English winger had damaged his knee when the Gunners played Barcelona in the Champions League.
While the match took place in February and there was hope of a return, manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that the 22-year-old would only be back by July. "There is no chance," Wenger said of his chances of making England’s squad.
