This year’s European Championships is set to be the biggest to date with 24 countries competing – did you know that 36 Football League Players are also on their way to France?
In total 35 players that play in the Football League will be making the trip to France; 30 from the Championship, four from League One and one from League Two.
Czech Republic’s squad contains two FL players, with Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton both being represented. The midfield duo have a total of 39 caps, Wednesday’s Pudil is the only one out of the duo who has scored for his country, with just two goals.
France’s squad contains recently relegated Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko. The strong midfielder is one of the experienced players in Les Bleus having surpassed 30 appearances as well as scoring just one goal for the French national side.
Iceland have two FL representatives in their 23-man squad. Johann Gudmundsson’s domestic club is Charlton – who were relegated to League One following a disappointed campaign. The Icelandic forward has made 46 previous appearances for the Nordic side, scoring four times, meanwhile, Aron Gunnrsson represents Cardiff.
Ireland’s manager Martin O’Neil chose to select nine players from FL clubs. Derby have the most representatives with three of their players making the 23-man squad. Kieren Westwood makes the trip to France after losing 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off final to Hull City. Cyrus Christie (Derby), Richard Keogh (Derby), Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers) and Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa) are four of O’Neil’s chosen defenders. Derby’s Jeff Hendrick joins Norwich’s Robbie Brady and Reading’s Stephen Quinn in midfield, whilst Ipswich’s Daryl Murphy is one of four strikers.
Norwich’s Martin Olsson is Sweden’s only FL representative.
Wales included seven Championship – and one League One – players in their 23-man squad. In their defensive ranks, Chris Coleman has chosen to select Reading’s Chris Gunter and Jazz Richards from Fulham. In midfield David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest), Simon Church (MK Dons), David Cotterill (Birmingham), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) and George Williams (Fulham) all join the Reds.
Northern Ireland are the final squad including a selection of FL players; nine from the Championship, three from League One and defender Luke McCullough (Doncaster) is the tournament’s only player representing League Two. Chris Baird (Fulham), Lee Hodson (MK Dons) and Conor McLaughlin are three of the chosen defenders, whilst Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Cory Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Oliver Norwood (Reading) and Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest) make up some of the midfield department. Wigan’s Will Grigg – who has a charity song in the charts about his latest scoring feat – joins Kyle Lafferty (Norwich) and QPR’s Conor Washington up-front.
