The Euros, after their year-long pandemic-induced delay, start next Friday and four former Bolton players have made their countries’ respective final 26-man squads.
Hungary have picked goalkeeper Adam Bogdan as one of their three. Bogdan of course played for us in the first half of the last decade, before leaving for Liverpool in 2015. That appears to have been a massive mistake, he never really played for Liverpool that much, made some bad errors when picked, and soon he was out at the likes of Wigan and Hibs. He had also been in the national squad in the run up to 2016, but didn’t go to the last tournament. Last summer he returned home and joined Ferencvaros, where he has been number two to Denes Dibusz, but played a few league games, as well as being on their bench in the Champions League group games. Bogdan will be third-choice, behind Leipzig’s Peter Gulacsi and Dibusz, so it’s unlikely we’ll actually see him play. If he did, he’d be busy, as they have France, Germany and Portugal in their group, Only the last three major tournament winners then…
Slovakia have named not one, but two former Wanderers in their contingent. Vladimir Weiss spent the second half of the 2009/10 season on loan with us, making 13 appearances. After further loan spells at Rangers and Espanyol, he left Man City and played in Italy and Greece before a four year stint in Qatar, before coming back to his homeland this season, helping Slovan Bratislava win a domestic double, including scoring the winner and getting sent off in the cup final. He’s a regular in their national team, and scored at Euro 2016.
Jan Gregus will be one of Weiss’ team-mates. Only ever playing for our development squad, he has since carved out a decent career, winning the league and cup in Denmark with FC Copenhagen before moving to MLS side Minnesota United. He also scored against Scotland in the Nations League last season. Slovakia have a better chance than Hungary of getting out of the group, Spain will be clear favourites, but may fancy themselves to at least pick up points against Poland and Sweden.
The best chance by a mile of a winner is Dedryck Boyata – part of the squad who got us relegated from the Premier League in 2011/12, the then-Manchester City loanee has since carved out a good career, mainly at Celtic before moving to German side Hertha Berlin. I’m not sure he’s a first choice in their side, but with the Belgians often going with a back three he may see some action. They have Denmark, Finland and Russia in their group.
Of course, none of that compares to Stelios being actually with us when he won Euro 2004 with Greece.
So, there are two options if you want to follow a team other than England (or whoever you support)