The 2020 UEFA European Championship, which includes 24 European countries, has promised to be a carnival filled with soccer's biggest names. It is one of those stages where players fantasize about creating history with their country. Some of the game's top stars compete to establish their worth. However, some unlucky individuals are forced to skip the competition as a result of an injury, as in the case of Sergio Ramos.
Spain defender Sergio Ramos was unable to join his teammates in their quest for a record fourth UEFA European Championship following 180 caps, one World Cup, and two European titles with the Spanish national team. Interestingly, for the first time in a while, not one player from Real Madrid was included, with remarkable exclusions from Nacho or Marco Asensio who had realistic chances to make the cut.
The Spanish head coach Luis Enrique released the official roster in June, and football fans were startled. It likely reminded them of 2008, when the former La Roja manager Luis Aragones surprisingly left Raul, another legend of Madrid, out of the Euro 2008 team. Spain eventually won the competition which denied Raul the chance to claim a major national trophy.
Euro 2020: Why is Sergio Ramos not playing for Spain?
The great number of injuries and lack of participation this season have resulted in Sergio Ramos' removal from Spain's team. "Ramos has not been able to compete this season, he has not been able to train with the group. I clearly see that it’s a complicated decision. I recommended that he be selfish and that he regains his level to play in his club and in the national team," said coach Enrique when explaining his choice.
The 35-year-old veteran had only played five matches for the Whites since the beginning of 2021: two in January; followed by two months of absence, after having undergone surgery to address his left-knee meniscus problems; two in March, and his final appearance was in the second leg of the Champions League Semi-Final against Chelsea.
Ramos was a member of the Real Madrid squad that finished second in La Liga and went trophyless for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Ramos, who hasn't played for Spain at the international level for the first time since 2004, wrote the defender onInstagram: "I have fought and worked every day, in body and soul, to be able to reach 100% for Real Madrid and the national team but things don’t always work out the way we would like."
