New Delhi: UEFA Euro 2024 has seen some great performances from individuals. New names have cropped up and announced themselves on the big stage. Year after year, this has been the stage where future stars first shone or carried their repute into the tournament.
Then again, many players haven’t played up to their profile. A case in point is Cristiano Ronaldo. Playing in his sixth European Championship, he was expected to be the oldest goalscorer ever. His failure to register a single goal in the tournament and Portugal’s crashing out of the quarter-finals was heartbreaking for many fans.
As the tournament enters its final stages, every team would hope every player gives their best foot forward, and all their big names are in form during the critical stages of the tournament. In fact, teams hope that some of the hype the big players have around them will match their performance in the coming game.
Kylian Mbappe
HAMBURG, GERMANY – JULY 05: Kylian Mbappe of France in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Portugal and France at Volksparkstadion on July 05, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images)
When France faces Spain in Munich for their semi-final fixture, they will want Kylian Mbappe to rise to the big occasion. Throughout the tournament, he has struggled to replicate his previous performances. After winning a World Cup as a teenager, his performances have been marred more by his fitness and the nose injury he sustained during match day one against Austria.
The 25-year-old has scored just once from his four appearances this edition, a penalty. Further, his performance against Portugal in Hamburg was the worst in his career. The French forward was substituted halfway into the extra time. He admitted later that he was exhausted and watched the game from the sidelines as Les Bleus won in a penalty shootout.
His impact is one of the playing aspects missing in France’s performance. Where Mbappe stands out as a player is his liking to rise in the big games. His hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final brought France back to winning the title. France will need his killer instinct more at this stage of the tournament.
Harry Kane
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – JULY 6: Harry Kane of England during the EURO match between England v Switzerland at the Merkur Spiel Arena on July 6, 2024 in Dusseldorf Germany (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Harry Kane, along with coach Gareth Southgate, has been at the forefront of criticism faced by the English side. The team’s record goalscorer has only two goals in this tournament. This is a good stat for a team that has scored just five goals. It is the rest of his performance that has not been up to the mark
The 30-year-old has lacked the intensity he usually brings with him to the ground and hasn’t been able to lead the press. Against Switzerland, he had just 27 passes. It isn’t a sound number from a player who has been one of the central points holding the English side for a long time. The English side hasn’t been able to make a mark in the setup devices by Southgate. Kane’s impact has been made through 91 passes, nearly 200 less than Bellingham. Besides his leadership skill and game reading-ability, his potential to make a lot from little is the biggest quality he brings to his side.
Alvaro Morata
06 July 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart: Soccer, UEFA Euro 2024, European Championship, Spain – Germany, final round, quarter-final, Stuttgart Arena, Spain’s Alvaro Morata reacts. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa (Photo by Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)
After scoring the opening goal for Spain, Alvaro Morata was expected to lead the charge for his side. Yet that is the only goal Morata has scored in this edition of the Euros. Since March, he has only scored thrice.
In the previous edition of Euros, Morata had scored three goals and the expectation were high in a team that has not lost a single game in this tournament. In fact his side hadn’t conceded a single goal in the entire group stage of Euro 2024. It is the 31 year-old’s experience which will be the real difference in the Spanish side which has many contributors to their success but not a single face that can rearrange them in crunch situations. Having played for major clubs, he will be someone who can bridge the steps left for Spain’s quest for their fourth Euro title.
Memphis Depay
BERLIN, GERMANY – 2024/07/06: Memphis Depay of Netherlands seen in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 match between Netherlands and Turkiye at Olimpiastadion. Final score: Full time, Netherlands 2:1 Turkiye. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
When Memphis Depay stepped into Euro 2024, fans had expected him to easily break Robin van Persie’s record for the Netherlands’ most goals. Depay has scored 46 times from 97 games, nearly a goal from every second game.. However, such has not been the case for the former Manchester United forward.
He scored only once in the tournament in the 3-2 loss against Austria. His performance in Euros is far from what was anticipated of him. Still, if the Dutch side want to repeat their 1988 Euro win, they need Depay to turn up for the next two games with the same intensity he is known to play.
The four semi-finalists have players who have the potential and yet haven’t performed to their level. Here’s a look at the players who are yet to fire in Euro 2024. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
