Despite the generous format of the current Euro Cup, which allows 16 out of 24 teams to advance to the knockout stages, some of the biggest stars in European football failed to make it through with their teams. Among these notable eliminations are Luka Modric and Robert Lewandowski.

The list includes:

- Luka Modric: The most traumatic elimination. Croatia's early exit came after two agonizing draws against Albania and Italy, following a 3-0 debut defeat to Spain. Modric, set to become Real Madrid's captain following Nacho's departure, was far from his best throughout the tournament. The wear and tear of an 18-year international career were evident as Modric, now 37, only completed 90 minutes against Albania. His lone moment of brilliance was a goal against Italy that almost redeemed his missed penalty, but a late goal by Zaccagni sealed Croatia's fate. Modric, Croatia's most capped player with 178 appearances, has never advanced past the quarterfinals in five Euro Cup appearances, a stark contrast to his World Cup success.

- Robert Lewandowski: A half-complete resurgence. Poland hoped the Barcelona striker would be their savior, despite missing the opening match against the Netherlands due to injury. Lewandowski's performance was as disappointing as Poland's overall display. His debut against Austria saw him receive a yellow card for an elbow almost immediately. 

Austria scored shortly after, leading to a 3-1 defeat and Poland's early exit. Lewandowski did manage to score a penalty in Poland's final match against France, which ended in a 1-1 draw and pushed France into a tougher knockout bracket. Unlike Modric, Lewandowski confirmed he would continue playing for Poland, with 152 caps and 83 goals to his name.

- Dušan Vlahović: Another letdown for Serbia. The Juventus striker left the tournament without scoring in Group C, which included England, Denmark, and Slovenia. Despite high expectations following his expensive move to Juventus, Vlahović struggled. He came closest to scoring against England but was denied by Pickford. Serbia's campaign ended with just two points and Vlahović's continued underperformance.

- Josko Gvardiol: The Manchester City defender failed to lead the next generation of Croatian players. After an impressive World Cup in Qatar, Gvardiol's Euro Cup was a disaster. He was outplayed by Lamine Yamal in the opener against Spain, made mistakes against Albania, and looked fatigued against Italy. With the future of Croatia's veteran players in question, Gvardiol will need significant improvement to take over as the team's defensive leader.

- Dominik Szoboszlai: Hungary's disappointment. Despite a strong qualifying campaign, Hungary was eliminated early after losses to Switzerland and Germany. Szoboszlai, Liverpool's star, couldn't lead his team to victory. Hungary's only win came against Scotland, but it wasn't enough to advance. Szoboszlai's inconsistent performance mirrors his season with Liverpool, failing to revive Hungary's past glories.

These early exits highlight the challenges and unpredictability of international tournaments, where even the biggest stars can struggle.