Injuries overshadow preparations for Euro 2024

The preparation phase for the European Championship is giving the national teams a real headache. Not because of those they have had to discard in the end, but because of those who, even though they have been selected, will not be able to take part due to injury.

The most important case is that of Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder arrived in Germany with an ankle injury that had forced him out of the Barcelona squad at the end of the season. Ronald Koeman was hoping and waiting for the recovery of his most important man in midfield, but in the end his presence has been ruled out when everyone assumed he would be at the continental showpiece.

But De Jong is not the only one. Poland may have up to three significant absentees. The confirmed loss is that of Arkadiusz Milik, who suffered a serious knee injury against Ukraine and has left for Italy for treatment.

Poland may also be without their most important man, Robert Lewandowski, who went off with muscle problems in the first half of the friendly against Turkey. Karol Swiderski, who was injured while celebrating his goal, was also unable to finish the match.

The Czech Republic have also lost an important player in Michal Sadilek, although his injury was not on the pitch, but from a fall while cycling with the national team. There are just three days to go until the start of the European Championship and fortunately for the coaches, there are few friendly matches left.