Football stars who usually ply their trade in West London are delaying their summer holidays and jetting to Germany to represent their countries at the 2024 Euros.
As the tournament kicks-off on Friday 14 June, H&F’s chosen players are raring to go in a month of high-octane matches. But who are we looking forward to seeing?
Who's Who
Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic is part of the 26-strong Serbia squad, where he will be urging Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic to keep the ball at the other end of the pitch against England teammates Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer. The duo will both be trying to fire the Three Lions ahead in Group C’s opening fixture on 16 June.
Gallagher already has a dozen senior caps, while Palmer made his full England debut against Malta last November. After a remarkable season in which he scored 25 goals for Chelsea, plus 15 assists, Gareth Southgate has great confidence in the Blues’ player of the season.
There was no place in the England squad, however, for Reece James, Levi Colwill, Noni Madueke, Trevoh Chalobah, Raheem Sterling or Ben Chilwell, meaning Chelsea is dramatically under-represented compared to some recent tournaments.
England then face Denmark on 20 June and Slovenia on 25 June as everything builds towards the final on Sunday 14 July.
Blues left-back Marc Cucurella is in Spain’s squad, and hopes to add to the four senior caps he already has against Croatia, Italy and Albania. He could come up against a familiar striker in the form of lofty Albanian forward Armando Broja – a Chelsea player who spent the end of the season on loan at Fulham.
Cucurella joins ex-Blue Alvaro Morata in the Spanish squad, although Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez is injured and will not go to Germany.
Four further Stamford Bridge regulars had hoped to make the cut for the French squad, managed by former Chelsea star Didier Deschamps. But, disappointingly, Malo Gusto, Chris Nkunku and defenders Alex Disasi and Benoit Badiashile were all left out.
Chelsea’s energetic midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk seems, however, destined to start for Ukraine as they face Romania, Slovakia and Belgium.
Mudryk is likely to face Fulham defender Tim Castagne, who is expected to play for Belgium in the Ukraine/Belgium clash in Stuttgart on 26 June.
However, Whites keeper Bernd Leno missed out for Germany, and fellow netminder Marek Rodak didn’t make the cut for the Slovakian squad either.
Fulham star Joao Palhinha remains a key part of Portugal’s squad, with games coming up against Turkey, Czechia and Georgia.
Missing out
Sadly QPR now won't be represented in the tournament. The R's Scottish sharpshooter Lyndon Dykes was set to be a key figure for the Tartan Army, but was injured in training and forced to drop out.
There will be be at least one ex-Rangers player for R's fans to cheer on though, with Eberechi Eze making Gareth Southgate's England squad (Kyle Walker did of course play 20 games on loan at QPR back in 2010, but that seem like a bit of a reach!).
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
