Why Vincent Kompany missing Euro 2016 may be bad news for Ireland

Vincent Kompany broke the news himself on his Facebook page.

It was accompanied by the most Vincent Kompany statement imaginable. One in which he asked fans not to feel sorry for him, one in which he showed typical resolve and selflessness; one in which he referenced the 'bigger pictures in life' in order to put his own issues into perspective. Too much fucking perspective, as David St. Hubbins would  say. Nobody really needs the spectre of, say, global famine encroaching into their though process as they ponder whether a Manchester City player's groin and thigh trouble will prevent him taking part in Pep Guardiola's first pre-season at the Etihad. But Kompany is out of the Euros and the understandable reaction was that this was this was great news for Belgium's Group E opponents, including Ireland who meet Marc Wilmots' side in Bordeaux on June 18. https://twitter.com/PressOfficeMan/status/729043187910742017 https://twitter.com/1johndes/status/729037163661242368 But the reality is that whatever the cause of it, whether it’s age or just a lack of match fitness, Kompany is not the player he was three years ago. https://twitter.com/evanfanning/status/729026913310801922 His season has been seriously disrupted by injury. His longest stretch of consecutive games was eight, back in August and September. It is estimated that he has had 33 injuries in the past eight years. That kind of punishment on the body takes its toll. When he has been on the pitch he has been error prone. He has, at times, been careless, And he has played in a manner that is ripe for exploitation by, let’s just say for the case of argument, an in-form Shane Long.

Kompany's season ✅ 8 games,⏱704 ❌ 5 weeks ✅ 6 games,⏱418 ❌ 7 weeks ✅ 1 game,⏱9 ❌ 7 weeks ✅ 7 games,⏱496 ❌ 5 weeks ✅ 3 games,⏱189 ❌ no Euros

— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) May 8, 2016

Clearly Kompany has been - and may still be - an elite defender. And it may well be that he would have found the reserves from somewhere to turn out his best performances in the summer. But in Kompany’s absence, Belgium coach Wilmots has the option to turn to Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld to form a central defensive partnership.

@evanfanning I think it's bad. The Spurs CBs gave formed a great partnership — Jody Neville (@TheRealPsycrow) May 7, 2016

That’s Vertonghen and Alderweireld, by common consent the two best defenders in the Premier League this season. The outstanding central defensive partnership in the team that has conceded the fewest goals in the division. Wilmots has preferred to play Vertonghen and Alderweireld in the full-back positions, pairing Kompany with Nic Lombaert's in the centre. But without his talisman, he may well decide to turn to a tried and tested defensive partnership rather than try and bed in a new partner for Lombaerts in Belgium's warm-up friendlies.   Long had a chance on Sunday to test himself against the two men he will face in one position or another in Bordeaux as Southampton played Spurs at White Hart Lane. Though Ray Houghton, commentating for Off The Ball, was a little bit critical of Long's display, citing a lack on anticipation and some wasteful finishing, the Spurs defenders were given a difficult time as Southampton won 2-1. https://twitter.com/KPGambler/status/729317004126081026 https://twitter.com/paulknight20/status/729317327314006016 On TalkSport, Stan Collymore named Long man of the match, though it's probably worth bearing in mind that after the disappointment of Spurs conceding the title after the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Monday, they may not have been at full tilt. Long, though, should be able to take some heart if he finds himself up against Vertonghen and Alderweireld in June. Though if we're looking at form over the past nine months he would probably rather see Kompany in front of him.