Henry and Djorkaeff, 2000

Recently, Italy manager Antonio Conte made headlines for excluding Sebastian Giovinco from the Euro 2016 roster because he plays in a supposedly inferior league. But 20 years ago, a much more accomplished Italian coach, Arrigo Sacchi, had no such qualms, as Roberto Donadoni became the only non-European player to play in Euro 96. And this was when MLS was in its first year... let's just say that quality has only gone up since then.

In any case, the Metro participation at various Euros is a short list, but does contain some incredibly notable names. So let's start with Donadoni. The Italian maestro appeared twice: the first came in 1988, when the tournament only featured eight teams and Italy went out in the semifinal. Donadoni's surprising Metro-representing 1996 turn saw Italy crash out in the first round. Oh, and he also coached his country in 2008 as Italy lost to Spain in the quarterfinals on penalties.

Donadoni's appearance was not the last time a current Metro appeared in the Euros; none other than Lothar Matthaus took field in 2000, at the age of 39. Fresh off his sojourn at St. Tropez, Matthaus promptly led Germany to a first-round exit, as they failed to score in two of the three games, earning a solitary point.

Of course, that was not the first time Matthaus played in the Euros. In 1980, at the age of 19, he got his first West(!) German cap in a first-round win over the Netherlands. He didn't feature in the final, as the Germans topped Belgium.

Four years later, Matthaus' West Germans failed to get out of their group. Hosting in 1988, they lost to the Dutch in the semifinals. Matthaus, captaining his nation, scored on a penalty in that game to briefly put Germany ahead. He would miss the next three Euros, to resurface with Metro in 2000.

Donadoni wasn't the only Metro in 1996. France featured a young Youri Djorkaeff, who was actually named to the team of the tournament as his country lost in the semifinals to the Czechs on penalty kicks. Djorkaeff scored in a group match against Spain, and nailed two penalties in elimination shootouts.

France triumphed at Euro 2000, with Djorkaeff now joined by the one and only Thierry Henry. The former scored twice, against the Czechs in group play and the winner over Spain in the quarters. The latter put in three: versus Denmark and Czechs in group, and Portugal in the semis. France triumphed over Italy in the final. Titi returned four years later, and scored twice, both in a win over Switzerland. France was upset by eventual champion Greece in the quarters. Henry's Euro tally went up to six in 2008, but this time, France failed to get out of the group. Henry's lone goal came in a loss to the Dutch.

The last Metro to participate at Euro was Ronald Waterreus. Of course, "participate" is a strong word, since his could not get off the bench for the Dutch in 2004. His team lost in the semifinals for Portugal. They can't all be winners...