By David Gold
May 30 – Germany, France and Greece have confirmed their 23-man squads for this summer’s UEFA European Championship.
Germany’s selection sprung a small surprise as Brazil-born VfB Stuttgart striker Cacau (pictured top) was dropped with manager Joachim Löw deciding to take just three forwards.
Sven Bender, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, was another significant exclusion while Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen misses out after conceding five goals in the friendly defeat to Switzerland last weekend.
Germany, triple European champions, will nevertheless take a strong squad to the Euros with a number of Europe’s leading players among their ranks.
They boast a number of talented strikers, including Dortmund’s Mario Götze, Marco Reus of Mönchengladbach and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller.
Low’s team face the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark in arguably the so-called “Group of Death” at the tournament; however, they are regarded as favourites to progress.
France’s squad does not include Montpellier centre back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who has just enjoyed a superb season for his club as they surprisingly won their maiden Ligue 1 crown.
Midfielder Yoann Gourcuff also misses out, having failed to impress since a big-money move from Bordeaux to Lyons in 2010.
After the withdrawal of Marseille’s Loїc Rémy through a thigh injury, there are just two centre forwards in head coach Laurent Blanc’s squad: Olivier Giroud of Montpellier and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
Midfielder-cum-winger Hatem ben Arfa (pictured above) also won a place in the selection after a good season with Newcastle in England, as do midfield men Alou Diarra and Marvin Martin, despite difficult campaigns with Marseille and Sochaux, respectively.
Two-times winners France will be the strongest team on paper in a group which also includes England, Sweden and hosts Ukraine.
Greece head coach Fernando Santos has dropped Bologna midfielder Panagiotis Kone from his squad after the player was sent off during a 1-1 friendly draw against Slovenia last weekend.
Ioannis Fetfatzidis (pictured above, in white), a promising winger playing for Olympiakos Piraeus, is among the most notable selections for the Greeks.
Along with Panathinaikos’ Sotiris Ninis, they will provide width and skill on either flank as surprise 2004 champions Greece hope to progress from a relatively benign group which also features Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic.
Those disappointed to miss out include Monaco midfielder Alexandros Tziolis, and goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, defender-cum-midfielder Nikos Spiropoulos and Czech-born defender Loukas Vyntra, all of Panathinaikos.
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