For many footballers, being part of the UEFA European Championship is a coveted honor. Hosted in Germany, this edition of the tournament represents the pinnacle of a season’s efforts for those fortunate enough to receive national team call-ups. For those who miss out, disappointment inevitably follows. Lucas Vázquez of Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro are among the players left to rue their exclusion.
Vázquez, despite not being an undisputed starter under Carlo Ancelotti, consistently delivered when called upon. He harbored dreams of representing Spain and stepping onto German soil this summer. However, his name was absent from Luis de la Fuente’s squad list, which included Dani Carvajal and Jesús Navas at right-back.
Reacting to the snub, he initially posted two laughing-crying emojis on social media, hinting at his dissatisfaction, before promptly deleting the post.
The omission of Porro, Tottenham’s right-back, has also raised eyebrows. His impressive performances and swift adaptation in the Premier League earned widespread praise. His season statistics were impressive: four goals and seven assists in 3,273 minutes of action.
In terms of age, Porro is 24, Vázquez 32, while Navas is 38. Navas registered two assists in LaLiga, compared to Vázquez’s three goals and seven assists.
Tottenham showed their support for Porro by sharing a video through their official channels, highlighting his season’s assists with the caption: “What a season this has been.”
Addressing the controversy surrounding Spain’s squad selection, Spanish newspaper AS noted that competition for places was intense, making it impossible to please everyone.