England weren’t the only team to crash out of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, meaning we’ll have fewer reds representing their countries next summer than we might have previously imagined. Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Ben Foster will all have a football free summer.
Nemanja Vidic wasn’t even on the bench when Serbia drew 2-2 with Poland last night. Their Euro 2008 campaign is now over. Northern Ireland, for who our young star Jonny Evans plays, saw their slims chances ruled out after a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Scotland had already lost their battle for qualification after a cruel 2-1 defeat against Italy at the weekend, meaning there will be no summer football for Darren Fletcher. The Republic of Ireland, for whom John O’Shea plays, will also not be taking part in the tournament.
That leaves a pitiful five players who will be featuring in the summer’s football; van der Sar, Ronaldo, Nani, Evra and Kuszczak. Pique, Saha and Silvestre will all be fighting for a place in their first team’s squad, but have been used little, if at all, in the qualifiers.
Is it a good or bad thing that so few United players will be featuring in Euro 2008?
------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.
