5 high-profile football teams that failed to qualify for major competitions
In lieu of Netherlands disastrous EURO qualifying campaign, we accumualted a list of teams which failed to qualify for major international tourneys in the past.
Argentina | 1970 World Cup
The footballing giants from South America were not able to make to Mexico in 1970. The side filled with footballing geniuses could not spark even through the qualifications round in 1970. They kind of did redeem themselves the second time the World cup reached Aztec-land. Maradona was at his absolute best and led them to their second title in 8 years.
Spain | 1974 World Cup
Long before the current lot, the Spanish side from the 1960s made their mark at the world stage. Winning the European championships in 1964 added further credence to the footballing talents in the country. In 1974 too, the team had decent qualification run, with La Roja and Yugoslavia finishing level on points with a similar goal difference, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify. They however lost the tie breaker 1-0, and were not able to make to Germany.
France | 1994 World Cup
The World Cup was going to USA, but there was a French Armada left on the shores of Paris only contemplating what could have been. Eric Cantona the star from Manchester united ruled English football for some time, with growing talents of Zinadine Zidane also coming through. The French were not able to boost themselves through the qualification rounds in the continent and were not able to make it to the world stage in the United States.
The French made amends in 1998 lifted the trophy in their home soil surprising many but missing the chance of not even representing at the world stage was a big upset for the French.
England | 2008 Euros
The stars of the English premier league were humbled in their own backyard. The Croatians defeated a star studded English line consists of stars like Beckhnam, Wayne Rooney,Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. But the journey for European glory for these stars was settled in London, there was no trip to the Alps in Austria and Switzerland for the English side. Manchester United and Chelsea both were in the champions’ league final in Moscow that year, but sorry thing as that there was no English representation in the European championships.
Netherlands | 2016 Euros
The latest casualty to join these super star sides which were not able to make it to major competitions. The semi-finalist from the last year’s world cup in Brazil drowsed through the whole qualification round, stars like Van persie, Memphis Depay, Robben, Sneijder , struggled to get themselves going and finished fourth in the group, which only makes then available for holidays in the summer in France and not for the European championships.