The tournament promises to be full of drama, but a number of top players will only be able to watch on from afar
Will Kylian Mbappe lead France to their third European Championship title? Or will Harry Kane help bring almost 60 years of hurt to a close for England? Spain and Portugal will also be in the mix, while Germany are poised for a resurgence on home soil, and it would be foolish to write off the likes of Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Lamine Yamal, Joao Neves, Jamal Musiala and Xavi Simons will be among the youngsters aiming to make a mark, while veterans such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Olivier Giroud, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric look to write another glorious chapter in their illustrious career stories. However, there are a host of other star names who didn't even manage to book a ticket – despite the fact the 2024 tournament is able to welcome 24 teams.
Through a combination of misfortune, thin resources and, in certain cases, poor performance, some of Europe's brightest talents have been forced to take the summer off. GOAL lists the top 10 players who failed to qualify, starting with a certain Norwegian terminator…
GettyErling Haaland (Norway)
It would be a travesty if the world's best striker never played at a major international tournament, but it's already starting to feel like a distinct possibility for Erling Haaland. The 23-year-old scored six goals in qualifying for Norway, but they still couldn't reach the play-offs, and finished a distant six points behind Group A runners-up Scotland.
It might have been different had Haaland not picked up an injury that limited him to just five appearances, but Norway have become far too reliant on the Manchester City superstar. They will have to become a more well-rounded side to make the 2026 World Cup, with only three of the extra 16 places at the finals being allocated to European nations.
AdvertisementGettyMartin Odegaard (Norway)
Not even the presence of Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard could lift Norway, whose last appearance at the Euros came way back in 2000. By the former Real Madrid man's high standards, he underperformed in qualifying, registering just two goal involvements, and wasn't nearly as influential in his role as captain for the national team as he has been on a weekly basis at the Emirates Stadium.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be glad that his prized asset is getting a proper rest in the off-season, but a player of Odegaard's class belongs on the biggest stage. The 25-year-old is a master technician capable of opening defences up at will with his incisive passing, he just hasn't shown it often enough for his country; though perhaps that will change on the back of his most impressive season yet at club level.
GettyEvan Ferguson (Ireland)
It's easy to forget that Evan Ferguson only made his debut for Ireland in November 2022, as he has since become a regular in the Brighton first team while reportedly emerging as a transfer target for a host of top clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea. He's now up to 12 caps for his country, and is seen as the leading light of their next generation, which puts a lot of pressure on the 19-year-old's shoulders.
Ferguson could hardly have experienced a tougher first European Championship qualifying campaign, with Ireland ultimately finishing way behind France, the Netherlands and Greece in Group C. Still, the Brighton man found the net twice and notched an assist in six games, which wasn't a bad return, and Ireland can look to the future with optimism as he continues his rapid rise to prominence in the Premier League.
GettyDejan Kulusevski (Sweden)
Dejan Kulusevski was one of Tottenham's best performers in 2023-24, as he helped them achieve a fifth-place Premier League finish under Ange Postecoglou. However, he wasn't as impressive for Sweden, who failed to qualify for the European Championship for the first time since 1996.
Belgium and Austria left Sweden trailing in their wake in Group F, and Kulusevski only managed to score once, while also playing the full 90 minutes of their embarrassing 3-0 loss to Azerbaijan. The former Juventus man has yet to really deliver in the famous yellow shirt, but he still has his prime years ahead of him at 24, and will be a big part of new manager Jon Dahl Tomasson's set-up.