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With Euro 2020 on the horizon, here are players on their way to the tournament that you may have forgotten about.
Yuri Zhirkov
Zhirkov is currently ranked fourth in all-time appearances for Russia playing 101 games for his country, more than any other active player.
The 37-year-old made headlines in 2009 when he joined Chelsea for £18 million, making it the most expensive transfer of a Russian player.
During his time at Chelsea, he won both Premier League and FA Cup during the 2009/10 season but could not cement his place in the side due to injuries and the quality of Ashley Cole. Zhirkov was also part of the Russian squad in 2008 that finished third at the Euros which saw him included in the team of the tournament.
The left-sided player currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and has made 437 club appearances throughout his career. Euro 2020 will be Zhirkov’s fifth major international tournament with Russia as they begin their campaign against Belgium on June 12th.
Thomas Vermaelen
Vermaelen will look to help Belgium better their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup as he once again makes Roberto Martinez’s squad. The Belgian made his name at Ajax with fellow compatriot Jan Vertonghen, before moving to Arsenal in 2009.
He gained a reputation as a goal-scoring defender during his first season where he was named in the PFA Team of the Season and nominated for the Belgian Sportsman of the Year award.
During the 2012/13 season, he replaced Robin van Persie as captain of the Gunners but was outperformed by Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
After moving to Barcelona in 2014, Vermaelen only made 34 appearances in five seasons at the club due to constant injury problems. The 35-year-old now plays his football in Japan for Vissel Kobe and will look to end his international career on a high.
Sebastian Larsson
The set-piece specialist has been included in the Sweden squad for Euro 2020 and could become the country’s third most-capped player depending on how the tournament goes.
The Swede made his career in England as he joined the Arsenal youth system in 2001 and made his senior debut in 2004.
He played three times for the North London side before moving permanently to Birmingham City after a successful loan spell. Between 2007 and 2018, Larsson made a combined 373 appearances for the Blues, Sunderland and Hull City before moving to AIK in his home country.
Euro 2020 will be Larsson’s fourth European Championships after representing Sweden at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 editions of the competition.
Adam Bogdan
Bogdan has been named in Hungary’s 26-man squad as the nation qualifies for back-to-back European Championships for the first time. This will be the goalkeeper’s first major competition after missing Euro 2016 due to a knee injury.
The Hungarian made 104 appearances for Bolton Wanderers between 2007 and 2015 before moving to Liverpool on a free transfer.
After only playing twice for the club, and an unsuccessful spell at Hibernian, Bogdan now plays for Ferencvaros in Hungary.
It is unlikely that the 33-year-old will play a big role at the tournament as Peter Gulasci, another former Liverpool goalkeeper, is the regular starter.
Goran Pandev
Pandev is a name that sits deep in the mind of many football fans which resurfaced a few months ago as North Macedonia qualified for their first-ever major tournament.
The Macedonian has largely spent his career in Italy, and after making 159 appearances for Lazio winning his first Coppa Italia, Pandev joined Inter Milan where he won a famous treble under Jose Mourinho.
At Inter, he won the Serie A title, the Champions League, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also won the Coppa Italia twice in three years at Napoli.
Pandev is both North Macedonia’s top goalscorer and holds the record for most caps. He has won Macedonian Footballer of the Year five times and this competition will be his last few games for his country. They will face Austria, Ukraine and Holland in the group stage.
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