9 minute read
THE BEST OF THE BEST
BESTOF THEBEST
WITH EURO 2020 FEATURING SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST PLAYERS, FEARGAL BRENNAN TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STANDOUT PLAYERS AT THE TOURNAMENT
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Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was named Player of the Tournament, as Italy beat England on penalties in the final of Euro 2020
espite initial concerns over player
Dfatigue and a lack of fan enthusiasm in some quarters, the delayed Euro 2020 proved to be one of the most exciting international tournaments in years. The impressive showing from underdog sides including Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Denmark ensured plenty of drama right the way through the knockout stages, as Roberto Mancini’s Italy took football to Rome instead of Gareth Southgate’s England bringing it home in their highstakes penalty shootout in the final at Wembley. Last-16 exits for defending world champions France and reigning European kings Portugal opened up the competition in the final stages, with some of the season’s finest performers rising to the challenge on the international stage. Key figures for both Italy and England featured prominently throughout the competition, with the two nations forming the bulk of UEFA’s Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament, but there were a few dark horse names who lit up the competition and could be in line for a bigmoney transfer ahead of the 2021-22 season. Here we take a look at some of the best performers at Euro 2020 and assess what the next 12 months could hold for them at club level.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA
Italy stopper Donnarumma played a vital role in the Azzurri’s success in clinching their first major European title since 1968, as he became the first goalkeeper to scoop up the UEFA Player of the Tournament Award. The 22-year-old confirmed his planned intention to leave Milan ahead of the competition, with his San Siro contract expiring at the end of June after eight years
@GIGIODONNA1
with the Rossoneri. However, the growing speculation over his club role did not distract Mancini’s giant in between the posts, as he kept three straight clean sheets in the group stage to help Italy secure maximum points. But it was to be the semi-final and final where Donnarumma showed exactly why he has seamlessly replaced Gianluigi Buffon as Italy’s No 1, with vital shootout saves from Alvaro Morata, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka taking his team to glory under immense pressure at back-to-back Wembley games. Following Italy’s triumph, Donnarumma moved quickly to tie up his club future by signing a five-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, with Mauricio Pochettino confident he can provide the much-needed presence to propel the Parisians on to a first ever Champions League title this season.
RAHEEM STERLING
Sterling arrived at the England camp on the back of an indifferent campaign with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, despite another Premier League title arriving at the Etihad Stadium. However, irrespective of his reduced role under Guardiola and a dip in form in 2020-21, Southgate stuck by the former Liverpool attacker based on his consistent reliability with England.
England forward Raheem Sterling grew up in the shadow of Wembley, and produced a series of memorable moments as the Three Lions finished as runners-up
Sterling in action for Manchester City
Sterling responded to that show of faith in impressive style, as the 26-year-old became England’s standout player in the competition. A solid group stage start from the Three Lions failed to spark much excitement, as just two goals from three matches saw them win Group D with minimal fanfare. Both goals were scored by Sterling, to win his country six of their seven points, before he memorably broke the deadlock late on in the Three Lions win 2-0 over Germany at Wembley in the last 16. He then turned provider in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, setting up Harry Kane against Ukraine and winning the all-important penalty against Denmark. Sterling’s performances deservedly earned him a place in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, but his club future is still rumoured to be uncertain, with City linked to a double swoop for England teammates Kane and Jack Grealish.
PEDRI
Pedri’s meteoric rise in the last 12 months took another mammoth step at Euro 2020, as he slipped straight into Luis Enrique’s starting XI. The 18-year-old has established a reputation as a marathon man during his
Pedri enjoyed a breakout tournament for Spain, with the Barcelona youngster tipped for a long and successful career at the top level
GREAT DANES
DENMARK BOUNCED BACK FROM THE TRAUMATIC EPISODE SURROUNDING STAR MAN CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN AND HIS COLLAPSE, BECOMING THE NUMBER ONE FEEL-GOOD STORY OF EURO 2020. HERE, FEARGAL BRENNAN PICKS OUT TWO OF THEIR STAR PERFORMERS, AS THE DANISH DYNAMITE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE SEMI-FINALS.
MIKKEL DAMSGAARD
Sampdoria winger Damsgaard was drafted into Denmark’s starting XI from their second group game as an emergency measure, after manager Kasper Hjulmand was forced to alter his tactical shape following the loss of Eriksen. His absence after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Finland in the tournament opener meant a change in the Danish engine room, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thomas Delaney forming a two-man defensive shield without a designated No 10. This opened the door for Damsgaard as a starting option to provide pace and trickery in attack, alongside Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite. The width would be provided by Jens Stryger Larsen and Joakim Maehle in a new wing-back system for the Euro 92 winners. Despite losing their first two group matches against Finland and Belgium, an experienced Danish side did not panic in their do-or-die clash with Russia. A crucial long-range strike from Damsgaard proved to be the timely platform to ensure the Danes powered their way out of Group B and into the last 16, courtesy of a resounding 4-1 victory over the Russians. His energy and ability to shoot from distance remained a constant threat for Denmark and he showed off his set-piece prowess with an arrowed free-kick in the semi-finals, to break Jordan Pickford and England’s clean sheet record in the tournament. Damsgaard is just 12 months into a four-year deal at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, following a 2020 move from boyhood club FC Nordsjaelland. However, Sampdoria could come under real pressure to sell him if they receive a bid in excess of their reported €35m asking price for the 21-year-old, ahead of the start of the 2021-22 club season.
MARTIN BRAITHWAITE
Braithwaite has cut a curious figure under Ronald Koeman at Barcelona in the last 12 months, with just 11 league starts to his name in 2020/21. Despite playing a bit-part role at the Camp Nou, he is well respected within the Blaugrana squad, with his selfless attitude offering an ideal foil for Messi and co within Koeman’s system. An example of Braithwaite’s selflessness was seen by Hjulmand’s persistence in sticking with him despite failing to find the back of the net during the group stages. His ability to provide an attacking focal point brought Mikkel Damsgaard and Kasper Dolberg into play with great effect and his goal against Wales in the last 16 was a just reward for a hard-working performance against Rob Page’s side in Amsterdam. Despite not guaranteeing a regular source of goals, the former Leganes striker is an experienced attacker with excellent link-up play, and he may now be on the radar of interested Premier League clubs this summer. Koeman has been tasked with removing as many squad players as possible from Barca’s inflated wage bill this summer, as the Catalans rush to register their new arrivals including Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay, while also confirming Messi’s contract extension. Braithwaite is on the list of players available for transfer ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, as Koeman aims to trim down his squad. A string of English sides are rumoured to be tracking him as an attacking reinforcement, while Barcelona are open to a bids in the region of €15m for the 30-year-old former Middlesbrough player this summer.
Mikkel Damsgaard and Martin Braithwaite were both excellent for Denmark en route to the semi-finals
NOTABLES
Patrik Schick Cristiano Ronaldo
Yann Sommer first season of La Liga football in 2020-21. His 37 appearances for Ronald Koeman were more than any other player in the Barcelona squad, including the iconic Lionel Messi. Despite his tender age, both Koeman and Enrique have placed their complete faith in the Canary Islands-born schemer, and he has backed that up with mature, high-octane performances in their respective engine rooms. The absence of Blaugrana teammate Sergio Busquets for the first two group games did not faze him, as he remained ever present with 120 minutes in all three knockout matches. Pedri joined Sterling and Donnarumma in the tournament’s best XI, but winning the Young Player of the Tournament award underlines his place as one of the best teenagers in world football. Koeman is frustrated at Spain’s decision to call him up for Olympic duty this summer, but after a brief rest ahead of the new season, he is in line to pick the baton straight up as Koeman’s midfield lynchpin in 2021, alongside Busquets and Frenkie de Jong.
FEDERICO CHIESA
Much of the pre-tournament talk surrounding Italy’s attack focused on Mancini deploying Ciro Immobile or Andrea Belotti as his No 9. However, with the Azzurri boss focusing on team structure ahead of individual talents, a new star emerged in the form of Juventus’s on-loan winger, Federico Chiesa. A decisive moment for Chiesa came in the last-16 stage, as his fine finish off the bench powered the Azzurri to a 2-1 victory over Austria in extra time. His impact persuaded Mancini to bring him into the starting XI for their final three games, with a key goal against Spain in the last four and a leading role against England in the final. The 23-year-old was named as the fifth Italian representative in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, alongside Donnarumma, Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola and Jorginho. Goals and eye-catching performances have catapulted him into the spotlight at club level ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, with Juve set to tie up his future from Fiorentina. Andrea Pirlo secured a two-year loan deal at the start of last season and the Turin club have already rubber-stamped their intention to activate the second half of the deal. A pre-agreement between the clubs over a €40m purchase option in 2022 could be rushed through this summer, as Juventus aim to prevent Real Madrid or Barcelona from hijacking their claim to the Genoese speedster.
