The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI

June 2nd, 2008 | By: chris | 11 Comments »

Continuing with the theme of hypothetical teams which will never make the squad, it’s time to honor those who will not be afforded the opportunity to drink crisp Vienna water and eat melt-in-the-wrapper fine Swiss chocolates. The All-Snubbed XI, those who were simply dropped for footballing reasons and, in most cases, for inexplicable reasons. There aren’t any coaches who were technically snubbed, but it’s safe to say there’s only one candidate for this squad: Raymond Domenech. The guy makes a hobby of ruining Serie A-based national team careers - and the back line is decidedly French. Actually, after the back line, we had to cut off the Frenchies. Dumdum has a whole host of cats he probably should’ve called up, but didn’t. Trezeguet, Ben Arfa, Flamini? Sorry, pals. If you were that far down on the pecking order, chances you weren’t making a difference anyway.

So, here’s the All-Snubbed XI:

GK: Timo Hildebrand (Germany)

Easily the most difficult position on this squad, simply because first choice keepers don’t often get dropped out of the blue. It was between Jerzy Dudek and Timo, but considering Hildebrand was going in as perhaps the heir to Jens after the tournament, this has to be a bigger blow. Dudek is on the wrong end, while Timo was supposedly on the way up. Must’ve stung a bit.

RB/LB: Bakary Sagna/Gael Clichy (France)

Same explanation: simply the victims of numbers. Clichy is not climbing over the established duo of Evra and Abidal while Clerc and Sagnol are the preferred tandem on the right. Plus, France has a couple guys who can slot over in a pinch. Someday, just not now.

CB: Carlos Cuellar (Spain)

The most difficult person to put in this list, with the main reason being a major tournament is just not the first time to give a guy his first competitive cap. Ever. Even if he may be a backup - in which case you could say it’s a definitive no-no, because those are times when experience is often valued above all, especially in central defence. But he did have a fantastic season for a team which plays absolutely no offense whatsoever, so he was critical.

CB: Philippe Mexes (France)

Biggest snub of the tournament. A world class defender, entering his prime and with intimate knowledge of nearly the entire Azzurri team, France’s biggest competitor in Group C? How do you explain that? Part of Domenech’s reasoning is supposedly the beating he took in the Coppa Italia final, but Philou was bruised and battered, not injured (and mostly at the hands of Vieira, which makes you think Domenech may have had a hand in this), and certainly capable of playing in the tourny. Someday the world will be introduced to him on the international level, but that day will have to coincide with the appointment of a new coach.

CM: Riccardo Montolivo (Italy)

For a long time he was being dubbed the heir to Francesco Totti. For a long time it looked like more media hype. This year, however, it seemed like there was a bit behind the comparison. Not enough to get him any higher than 24th on the list, however. He’d start for 3/4, maybe more, of the teams at this tournament. 2010 will be his day.

CM: Maniche (Portugal)

When he moved to Inter Milan from Atletico Madrid during January, he probably thought he was going for a better chance at starting for his country this summer. Maniche could hardly think he was fighting for a spot - a fight which would ultimately prove futile. Big Phil didn’t rate his recent performances enough to bring him along for the ride, feel free to guess why.

CM: Paul Scharner (Austria)

May not be the most glamorous name on this list, but when you’re Austria and you’re basically being forced into a major tournament you’re ill-qualified to participate in, you should be taking whatever talent and ability you’ve got. Not the case here; Scharner, despite being a player who would walk into the starting XI, will be at home watching his homeland in his homeland because of “differences” with the FA.

ST: Raul (Spain)

What can you say, really? Had a fantastic season and Aragones still doesn’t rate him. Sometimes, it’s just about being perceived as a square peg in a round hole.

ST: Hakan Sukur (Turkey)

Like Scharner, it’s all about the impact for your country. Even though he’s 36, he still played a critical part in qualifying and added to his already impressive tallies of 112 caps and 51 international goals with 5 into the back of the net in qualifying. Unfortunately at his age this snub also likely means his international career is over.

ST: Pippo Inzaghi (Italy)

They always say ride the hot hand, right? Well nobody in Europe was hotter than Pippo going into the Euros. His final 7 games, when Milan was playing for a Champions League spot, produced a ridiculous 10 goals. That one thing, despite having zero talent whatsoever, Pippo does and does well.

So in the end, it looks a little something like this:

Hildebrand;
Sagna, Cuellar, Mexes, Clichy;
Montolivo, Scharner, Maniche;
Sukur, Inzaghi, Raul.

Wonder where that squad would land were they thrust into, say, Group A?



Related Posts


Subscribe
 

rss icon Euro 2008 World Cup RSS Feed

Print
Print this article
Share
del.icio.us:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI digg:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI newsvine:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI reddit:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI fark:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI Y!:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI stumbleupon:The All-Snubbed Euro 2008 XI

Comments
Username By snuff | June 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
top comment
cornercorner

David Trezeguet?

cornercorner
Username By Tommy Wong | June 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
top comment
cornercorner

Looks like Trezeguet got snubbed from THIS team too. Ouch. :[

But you bring up a good point on Mexes’ knowledge on the Azzurri… He/it would have been a great asset to his team.

Posted from United States United States

cornercorner
Username By Chris | June 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
top comment
cornercorner

I said we capped the Frenchmen after the defense. Twas only fair.

(Plus many, including myself, can absolutely see how he could be left off the squad.)

cornercorner
Username By Tommy Wong | June 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
top comment
cornercorner

Okay… beeeesiiiiiiides the fact that he’s Juve scum….

Posted from United States United States

cornercorner
Username By Jan | June 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 am
top comment
cornercorner

I don’t understand the Cuellar choice. He’s had a great year.

Posted from Italy Italy

cornercorner
Username By tito | June 3rd, 2008 at 5:14 am
top comment
cornercorner

Great idea for a post! This team would probably be in the top third of the tournament.

cornercorner
Username By Rob | June 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 am
top comment
cornercorner

That is a very good team.

Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

cornercorner
Username By Nolan | June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 am
top comment
cornercorner

DUDEK over Victor Valdes? Timo is debateable, he had a very hot and cold season for a horrible team, but Dudek has been absolute garbage in every chance he has been given. Valdes is the second best Spanish keeper, Reina is just as error prone and Palop had a poor season.

Posted from Argentina Argentina

cornercorner
Username By Ian Rose | June 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
top comment
cornercorner

Whoever is in goal, a team with a back four of Mexes, Cuellar, Clichy and Sagna is going to get some clean sheets. The keeper might as well be a cardboard cutout its his arms stretched out, because there wouldn’t be many good shots on that goal.

cornercorner
Username By Rimbaud | June 3rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
top comment
cornercorner

I would love to see an Absentee All-Star XI be entered for both the Euros and the World Cup. My preference would be to make it up with players from teams who didn’t qualify (ie people like George Best and Ryan Giggs would have been able to play). So sort of the opposite of this list and its brother.

That would mean a few English players in this tournament though, which I guess would be a shame.

Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

cornercorner
Username By Weston | June 6th, 2008 at 11:41 am
top comment
cornercorner

Trezeguet, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Cisse, Seedorf, (oh wait he chose that), Krkic (oh wait, he decided too), Rosicky, (oh wait he is injured, damn), Nedved, Flamini, the list goes on and on.

oh, and stfu, Juve rocks!

Posted from United States United States

cornercorner


Comments are closed


 
Go to WCB Homepage


Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for World Cup Blog?
Email tips[at]worldcupblog[dot]org

Euro 2008 Club Football News

More Euro 2008 Blogs

Monthly Archives

closer