New Delhi: As the UEFA Euro 2024 heads towards its final stages, we have the final four teams of the tournament that will be competing to be crowned the champions of Europe. The final quartet of Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands have an exciting group of players in their camp that will be eager to lift the trophy in Berlin, one week from today.
The 2024 edition of the UEFA European Championships is the first time in a long time that we’re seeing four conventionally big teams competing in the final four of a major tournament. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we had Morocco and Croatia, in the UEFA Euro 2020 there were Denmark, and in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, we again had Croatia and in the UEFA Euro 2016, we had Wales in the semi-finals.
We have to go back 10 years, to the 2014 FIFA World Cup for the last major tournament where we had conventionally top teams at this stage. That brings another layer of excitement to these highly anticipated match-ups in the semi-finals. With these four heavyweights of European football competing for glory, we’re bound to see many quality players in action over both games.
Players like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Memphis Depay, and Alvaro Morata were all expected to shine and lead their sides from the front but haven’t yet performed at the level expected of them in this tournament. However, all these sides have players who stepped up for them in the tournament and would be expected to show up for their teams in the semi-finals as well.
1) Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal has formed a devastating partnership alongside Nico Williams at UEFA Euro 2024. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The young Barcelona winger has announced himself on the world stage at the UEFA Euro 2024. The 16-year-old Yamal has been lighting up the right flank in every match that he’s played for the national team till now. His partnership with Nico Williams on the field has been electric and their combination has been the key for Spain’s attack throughout the tournament.
While the young teenager is yet to get off the mark in the tournament, he’s already racked up three assists including one for the opener against Germany in the quarter-finals. He’s been involved in all of Spain’s games till now, starting four of the five games he’s played in.
The youngest player in the history of UEFA Euros has been one of the best players of the tournament and has shouldered a big responsibility for his team at such a young age. His pace and trickery will be useful against a stern French defence if Spain are to reach their first major final since UEFA Euro 2012.
2) Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham needs to be at his best against the Netherlands. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The darling of English football fans, Jude Bellingham is the main reason why England are still involved in this tournament at this stage cause if not for his stupendous overhead kick against Slovakia, England wouldn’t have made it past the round of 16 stage. The Real Madrid star has scored two goals for England at the championships so far and both his goals have been crucial for his side.
Aside from the aforementioned bicycle kick, his goal in England’s opener against Serbia gave them their only win in the group stages. While he hasn’t consistently been at his best in the tournament, he has risen to the occasion whenever needed, even scoring his penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in their previous game. Bellingham has often carried the team on his shoulders and he has been one of England’s best players in Germany.
Gareth Southgate needs his top players to be on top form if they are to overcome the Netherlands in the semis, who pose the first real threat to Southgate’s men and Jude Bellingham’s name is at the top of that list.
3) Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo is the only one who can add to his three goals now. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
The current joint-top scorer of the tournament is the only one who’s on three goals and is still competing in the competition. Gakpo has been incredibly important for the Dutch, scoring vital goals for his team and has been the main man responsible for leading them to the semi-finals. He’s doing the job everyone expected Memphis Depay to do for his country.
In addition to the three goals he’s scored in the UEFA Euro 2024, he also assisted one against Romania, in what was the Netherlands’ best performance of the tournament. He was also the man who forced an own goal off Mert Mulder in the quarter-finals which ultimately proved to be the winner for his side. Gakpo has been extremely involved in the Dutch attacks, often being the main creator for them.
His importance to the team is indicated by the fact that he’s played at least 80 minutes in all his appearances in the competition and has completed the full 90 in three of his five games. If the Dutch are to reach their first UEFA Euro final since 1988, Gakpo needs to perform against England.
4) William Saliba
William Saliba has been one of France’s best players throughout this campaign. (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
The French football team has been incredibly underwhelming throughout the tournament and have been disappointing at times. For a team that reached the finals of back-to-back FIFA World Cups in the last six years, they have looked woeful at times. While their attack has been horrible, the defence has shown and much of it is down to the performance of Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.
Saliba has been a rock for the French national team in Germany, playing every single minute of the campaign, including the entire 120 minutes against Portugal. He’s helped his side keep a clean sheet in four of their five games till now, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament.
Much has been made about French attackers not scoring from open play, Saliba has helped his team not concede a single goal from open play, the only goal they conceded being a Robert Lewandowski penalty. His defensive numbers have been excellent for Les Blues, averaging about six ball recoveries for the French side and completing 15 of his 21 clearances. He’ll be key for France against a potent Spain attack in the semi-final.
All four sides have players who stepped up for them in the tournament and would be expected to show up for their teams in the semi-finals as well. Here is a look at the players to watch out for in the final. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
