There were plenty of players celebrating their international successes as Euro 2024 qualification drew to a close, but for some there was nothing to smile about.
21 nations have already secured their spot at next summer’s continental tournament, with all the European big-hitters having booked their plane tickets to Germany. Three more nations will seal their places through the play-offs that commence next March.
However, for some it is well and truly the end of the line, including several of the Premier League’s top stars.
Here are the best Premier League players who definitely won’t be at Euro 2024.
It truly was a dismal qualification campaign for Sweden. The 1992 bronze medallists barely put up a fight in Group F, unable to match the quality and consistency of top two Belgium and Austria, and even stumbled to a 3-0 defeat away from home against ten-man Azerbaijan.
Alexander Isak’s absence in the final three group matches didn’t help, but the Newcastle United forward had struggled to make an impact in an underperforming Sweden side in the first five games.
The 24-year-old supplied just one goal in a 5-0 hammering of Estonia – who rather ironically do have a shot at making Euro 2024 via the play-offs – a disappointing tally for a player of Isak’s excellence.
Another high-profile Premier League Swede who will have next summer off is Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski. Despite playing alongside Isak up top, the winger wasn’t able to lift his side’s performances with his individual quality.
It’s a shame because Kulusevski has been in fantastic form this season in a resurgent Spurs side, providing three goals from the right flank and blossoming up front in an impressive trio that also contains James Maddison and Son Heung-min.
However, Kulusevski’s Premier League goalscoring tally after 12 matches this term is the same as in his 35 national team appearances with Sweden, the 23-year-old managing just three goals contributions in eight qualifying appearances.
One of the brightest young forwards in world football, the Brighton starlet has received a less steady supply of chances at international level than he has for the Seagulls. At just 19 years old, it was perhaps unfair to task Evan Ferguson with rescuing a pretty sorry Ireland in a tough group that contained previous European Championship winners France, Netherlands and Greece.
Ferguson did score twice in six Euro 2024 qualifiers, although both came against minnows Gibraltar – the only two matches Ireland won in Group B.
Fortunately, the youngster has plenty of future opportunities to make it to a major tournament, but he will need his Ireland teammates to rise to his level.
The somewhat surprising brilliance of Scotland during qualifying proved fatal for Norway. The Tartan Army made it out of Group A alongside two-time European champions Spain, meaning Martin Odegaard will have to wait for a first appearance at a major international tournament.
The Norway captain will feel this golden generation of Norwegian talent should have performed better in qualifying and he would probably be correct. Ultimately, it came down to defeats to Spain and dropped points against Scotland, with the saving grace of the play-offs not an option for the Scandinavians.
The Arsenal midfielder should have some shots at redemption in future qualifying campaigns, but for now Norway have to continue their wait for a first major tournament appearance since Euro 2000.
Last season’s top goalscorer in the Premier League will not be going to Euro 2024. Erling Haaland may have bagged 27 goals in 29 matches with Norway, but his six strikes in qualification ultimately proved fruitless.
The Manchester City sharpshooter will be given a summer of rest next year, which spells trouble for Premier League defences, but it’s a pity spectators won’t get to see Haaland return to Germany in 2024.
Arguably, his lack of international achievements cost him the most recent Ballon d’Or and unfortunately that will be a difficult hurdle to overcome for the Norwegian in the future.
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