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Injuries, injuries and once again injuries.. The most painful reason blocking the way to the main soccer event of this year. Precisely because of this reason, in Portugal we will not see the club Loydovico Giuly with Fernando Morientes who was injured. He would probably not get much playing time in Portugal, as the French have Robert Pires, who was a substitute in the 1998 World Cup and Euro-2000, and he missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury. But the right to play in Portugal, even as a substitute, Giuly certainly deserved. Another victim - Mark van Bommel. He got injured in the last matches of the season, so the team's coach decided to invite veteran Paul Bosvelt instead of him. Other colleagues with the same fate - two Russian national team defenders - Sergei Ignashevich and Viktor Onopko. Although both of them were criticized from all sides, now everyone in Russia regrets that the defensive line in the team is completely experimental. This is not the last "victim" for the Russian national team. It is worth mentioning Igor Titov. Old and well-known history. Well, his only consolation is that at least he will see with his own eyes everything that happens on the field, and his comments will be heard by all the Russian television audience. Titov has a friend of fate - Rio Ferdinand. For eight months, he "stalled" his native football federation for refusing to take a doping test. Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate from England will also not be able to travel to Portugal. So, for the English, as for the Russians, there is a problem in the center of defense. Djibril Cisse will also not fly to Portugal. Kicking the Portuguese in a youth team meeting cost him dearly. UEFA disqualified the top scorer of the French league for five matches. The sports arbitration court shortened this disqualification by only one match. Jacques Santini was not very thrilled. But that's understandable: why does he need a footballer whom he could release on the field only in the semifinals? The Spaniards lost Michael Salgado, who stood out last season with stable play, and Mista, the best player of the UEFA Cup final, left at home by the coach's decision. Two more noticeable absentees are Filippo Inzaghi, who did not have the best season (14 matches, 3 goals), and a participant and winner of the European Youth Championship. Overall, it is not a short list of those who are not destined to participate in Euro-2004. As the French say - C'est la vie. But I wonder if this philosophical conclusion could calm Giuly and Cisse. Like all other footballers who will have to settle for Euro-2004 through the television.
Symbolic losses of the national team:
- Michael Salgado (Spain)
- Viktor Onopko (Russia)
- Rio Ferdinand (England)
- Mark Van Bommel (Netherlands)
- Ludovic Giuly (France)
- Yegor Titov (Russia)
- Mista (Spain)
- Filippo Inzaghi (Italy)
