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The official deadline for international managers to submit their 23-man Euro 2016 rosters is May 31, but many have already been finalized, and we can begin to have an idea about what the teams will look like. Specifically, we can see the players who were left out entirely, perhaps unfairly. With that in mind, here are five of the biggest snubs from the Euro 2016 squads.
England - Jermain Defoe
Photo: @SunderlandEcho | Twitter
When Defoe went to the MLS, people naturally assumed that his career was going to slowly fade into the sunset, such is the reputation of the MLS as a retirement league. So, when Sunderland picked up him up at the beginning of last season, most people were quite rightly confused. Did he really still have it in him to return to the Premier League?
Short answer: Yes. Defoe scored 15 goals in 33 games this season to help Sunderland stave off relegation, and he was a constant menace to opposing defences. He was never going to replace Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy after the season that they both had, but the fact that Marcus Rashford was picked over him seems a bit strange from Roy Hodgson. Rashford is a talent, that much is clear, but Defoe is vastly more experienced, and could have been very useful as an impact sub at Euro 2016
France - Kevin Gameiro
Photo: @Squawka | Twitter
There are a couple of footnotes to make with this one:
1. Gameiro is on standby, so there is still a chance that he could make it into the Euro 2016 squad.
2. Karim Benzema is obviously the biggest snub, but since we've known about that for a while now, we're going with someone else.
The French team is ridiculously strong on paper, and as hosts, they must be considered favorites. However, the exclusion of Gameiro seems strange. The Sevilla striker has had a fantastic season, notching 16 goals and four assists in La Liga. He also scored eight and assisted two in nine appearances to help Sevilla win their third Europa League title in a row.
We realize that the French squad is stacked, but surely Gameiro is a better pick than Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko? You could even make the argument that Gameiro should be in over Olivier Giroud. It's just such a shame to see a player with so much talent and who had such a fantastic season miss out, especially as the tournament is in France.
Spain - Hector Bellerin
Photo: @Metro_Sport | Twitter
There are quite a few nominations for biggest snub award amongst the Spanish contingent, but none of them shock as much as Hector Bellerin's omission. Sure, he has a lot of competition from Dani Carvajal and Juanfran, but Bellerin defintely made a case this season for his inclusion. He had more assists than either Juanfran or Carvajal (5), he beats Carvajal and almost matches Juanfran on interceptions (67) and tackles (47), and he has had way more successful take ons than either Carvajal or Juanfran (63). Take a look at the Squawka comparison for yourself.
Bellerin has absolutely earned his place, and he should have taken the place of Carvajal, who has had to split time with Danilo at Real Madrid. The Spaniard has been one of Arsenal's stand-out performers whose proficiency in attack and defense is all too rare among modern fullbacks. Seriously, Cesar Azpilicueta made the team but Bellerin didn't. What is the world coming to?
Italy - Sebastian Giovinco
Photo: @TeleFootball | Twitter
We all know Italy boss Antonio Conte's views on the MLS by now, but we think he may be taking it a bit far. Sebastian Giovinco has been on fire for Toronto FC since his arrival. He scored 22 goals and assisted 15 last season and he has already racked up 8 and assisted 5 in 12 appearances this season. Whatever your opinion on the MLS, when a striker is on fire, he is on fire and you sign him up.
Instead, Conte is being stubborn. There's no doubt that the likes of Eder and Graziano Pelle are good, but surely Giovinco is displaying the kind of form that is worthy for a Euro 2016 callup. At the very least, he could be a wicked impact sub. Unfortunately for "La Formica Atomica," the reputation of the MLS is holding him back.
England - Pretty much anybody from West Ham
Photo: @City_Watch | Twitter
Aaron Cresswell has missed just one Premier League match in two seasons since he joined from Ipswich Town. That's 75 games, plus a handful of Europa League matches and FA Cup matches. You can't find a more dependable left back in world football at the moment than Cresswell.
Yet, he is never even been in the frame for an England callup. Yes, Danny Rose deserves to be in the England squad — and you know what? — so does Ryan Bertrand. However, when Luke Shaw was injured with a horrific leg break, it surely wouldn't have hurt to try him out. He is terrific at set pieces, and he has a wicked cross on him. He's also quite a bit more dependable defensively as well, but still, Roy Hodgson ignores him. And he's not the only one.
Photo: @WestHam_Central | Twitter
West Ham teammate and captain Mark Noble has been a consistent, experienced presence in the West Ham midfield for ages. He is a good leader, an excellent technician and he's not afraid to go into a tackle and rough the opposition up a bit. Yet Jack Wilshire, who hadn't played in nine months, was preferred to Noble, as was Fabian Delph, who also has been out most of the season with injuries.
That's not to say that neither of those players can do a job for England, but it sends a pretty poor message. Noble is a former England youth international and has been the bedrock for West Ham for a decade (he even got a testimonial match), yet he has not received a single senior international cap.
Wilshire, Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson haven't done anything of note this season, while Noble has led West Ham to one of their most successful seasons in recent memory.
Oh, and let's not forget Andy Carroll as well, who is arguably the best header of the ball in Europe. He would offer something different for England from what they have already. However, Roy Hodgson left him out too. Angelo Ogbonna and Dimitri Payet were called up for Italy and France respectively, so where's the love for the Hammers' English contingent? If England fail miserably at the tournament, that is a question that Hodgson will have to answer.
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