Top performers at the top of their game

Players to watch

One of the pleasures of major tournaments is the chance to spot Premier League players performing for their national sides. ClubMirror profiles six players who could catch the eye in June and July.

ENGLAND Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

The England captain has become a talismanic figure for the national side and is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in club colours, despite the well-publicised problems experienced by Spurs over recent months. Winner of the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, England fans will be hoping that Kane ’ s rumoured wish to head to another club will not distract him from the job in hand.

The 27 year old has not only been in scintillating goal-scoringform–heiscurrentlyoncoursetofinish the domestic season as the Premier League ’ s top scorer – but has also demonstrated genuine creativity, threading inch-perfect cross through to team-mates Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn.

Givenhisglobalreputation,Kaneissuretoreceive plentyofattentionfromdefendersduringthetournament, but the centre-forward appears to be far more robust this season than in previous years.

Kane will be desperate to get his hands on the trophy this summer after the disappointment of England’ s semi-final defeat in the last World Cup and will be straining every sinew to lead his men to glory at Wembley.

SCOTLAND Andy Robertson (Liverpool)

It hasn ’t been a vintage season for the Reds but Robertson has never let his standards drop. No wonder then that the left-back has been an almost ever-present in Jurgen Klopp ’ s side this season. Admittedly, his statistics are not as stellar this time around as during the last season when Robertson ’ s ability to press forward and supply his strike force with perfectly placed balls was a key factor in Liverpool’ s Premier League title win, contributing two goals and 12 assists during the season.

Having performed at the highest level for his club, Robertson will relish the chance to appear for his country in a major tournament and has been an inspirational figure for Scotland since making his debut back in 2014 with an eye-catching appearing off the bench in the 1-0 victory over Poland.

Robertson further cemented his place in the Scotland team by scoring his first international goal in a friendly against England at Celtic Park in November of that year scoring Scotland’ s only goal as they were beaten 3–1.

Robertson was duly appointed as Scotland captain by then manager Alex McLeish in 2018 and has continued to impress with his work rate, passing skill and ability to motivate his teammates.

WALES Daniel James (Manchester United)

Regarded as a star of the future, Daniel James has been enjoying life during his debut season in the Premier League having cut his professional teeth at Swansea City. The 23-year-old winger signed for Ole GunnarSolskjaer ’ ssideinJune2019andhasbecome an established squad player in a highly competitive environment.

Stats junkies will know that, in February, he scored United’ s Premier League record-equalling goal in the 9–0 home win against Southampton. James received his first senior call-up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Serbia in 2017 by manager Chris Coleman and subsequently made his full Wales debut under Coleman ’ s successor, Ryan Giggs, in a match against Albania in November 2018, playing the first 58 minutes of the

game.

James scored his first Wales goal in only his second cap, netting the only goal of the game in the opening minutes against Slovakiain in his competitive home debut.

Welsh fans will be expecting James to make a giant leap forward during the summer.

ITALY Jorginho (Chelsea)

It is unfortunate that Brazilian-born Italy midfielder Jorginho was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in May when his schoolboy error in the Premier League clash against Arsenal gifted the game to the Gunners.Itwasafairlyuncharacteristicmistakefrom a man who has been in excellent form for the Blues this season and who was instrumental in helping his team make it to the UEFA Champions League Final. He arrived at Stamford Bridge from Italy back in 2018ona£50milliontransferandhassettledintohis versatile role in the squad. Making his international debut for Italy in 2016, Jorginho failed to make the squad for Euro 2016 and with Italy failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, he will be aiming to make an impact in his first major tournament for his adopted country.

The 29 year old is a specialist penalty taker, a skill that will undoubtedly come into play during the upcoming tournament.

DENMARK Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)

Schmeichel has almost become part of the furniture at the King Power Stadium such is the Denmark goalkeeper ’ s loyalty to Leicester City where he has been for the past 10 years. Now 34, Schmeichel continues to be a steadying force for the Foxes during what has been an excellent season for the men from the East Midlands. He was also a rock for Denmark during the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, most notably in his man-of-the-match performance in the key win against Switzerland back in 2019.

Previoustothat,Schmeichelwasinfineformduring the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he started in three group stage matches. His clean sheet in the opening match contributed to a Man of the Match award and helped Schmeichel set a new record for minutes without conceding a goal for Denmark, surpassing his father Peter ’ s record.

During the Round of 16 match against Croatia, Schmeichel was named Man of the Match after saving a penalty kick taken by Luka Modric in extratime and two penalties during the subsequent shootout, although his opposing counterpart Danijel Subasic saved three penalties in that shootout to eliminate Denmark.

In what will be his last major tournament for his country, Schmeichel will be going all-out to help Denmark challenge for the title.

FRANCE Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

World Champions France have plenty of talent at theirdisposalandwillbeamongthefavouritestowin the title. Among their dazzling stars is Manchester United’ s Paul Pogba, who while much criticised in the UK and France, looks to be hitting peak form just in time for the Euros. Pogba is certain to feature in United’ s Europa League Final plans and will then have the chance to show his creativity for his country on the European stage. An integral part of the squad which finished as runners-up in Euro 2016 and then World Cup winners in 2018, Pogba played exceptionally well throughout both previous tournaments, indeed scoring in the 4-2 World Cup Final win over Croatia. Fans of Les Bleus will be hoping that the midfielder is back to his best during the summer to spearhead another success for France.