Euro 2024 has commenced, and there is all to play for in Germany. This article will identify each team’s most important player and show why they are critical to their side lifting the trophy.
Group A:
Germany – Jamal Musiala
0.41 Non-Penalty Goals (93rd Percentile)
4.07 Successful Take-Ons (99th Percentile)
5.03 Shot-Creating Actions (84th Percentile)
Musiala’s talent was evident in their first game against Scotland. He showed his clinical edge for Germany’s second goal, using a body feint to give himself enough room to finish into the roof of the net. He effortlessly glides past defenders, making the La Croqueta skill his own and adds some natural creativity in the final third. Playing at a home Euros is the most pressure the young German would have faced in his career, and Germany’s success hinges on how he will deal with this. It feels like the perfect opportunity for Musiala to announce himself as one of the best players in the World. It couldn’t have started much better for him against Scotland, but he must kick on from here.
Switzerland – Granit Xhaka
12.07 Progressive Passes (99th Percentile)
166.35 Progressive Carrying Distance (Yards) (98th Percentile)
4.15 Shot-Creating Actions (93rd Percentile)
Xhaka is the heart of this Switzerland team, controlling the tempo of their game. He has come into his own at club level under Xabi Alonso and in the latter stages of his Arsenal career, turning from a hard-working midfielder to a real creator. This can be seen in his remarkable progressive passing and carrying stats over the last year, and Switzerland will rely on his creativity and captaincy at the Euros. Despite stringing together more consistency recently, he is still somewhat of a mercurial player. Several controversial moments have clouded his career, including a questionable disciplinary record. However, Xhaka has really matured as a player and can be trusted throughout this tournament for Switzerland. His performance in their first game against Hungary showed this, where he controlled the game and helped Switzerland for the 3-1 win.
Hungary – Dominik Szoboszlai
3.18 Progressive Carries (97th Percentile)
4.74 Shot-Creating Actions (96th Percentile)
0.19 Non-Penalty Goals (91st Percentile)
Szoboszlai scored a magnificent solo goal in the playoffs to send Hungary to the Euros. He is their main player and also has the most pedigree, playing his club career at Liverpool. His season started strong but died off towards the end, which resulted in him dropping to the bench. He is still the player they rely on the most creatively for Hungary. This was seen in the first game against Switzerland, where his floated cross created their only goal. Apart from that, his impact was limited. He will have to improve if Hungary are going to advance.
Scotland – Scott McTominay
0.32 Non-Penalty Goals (99th Percentile)
1.70 Aerials Won (86th Percentile)
57.5 % of Dribblers Tackled (86th Percentile)
McTominay’s nine-goal tally in the qualifiers played a massive part in gaining Scotland’s place in the tournament. His role in the national team gives him more freedom as the leading man, and he has flourished with the greater responsibility. He did not get to show this against Germany in their opening game, having to take a deeper role, especially after the red card. The German midfield swarmed him, and he was often outnumbered at times. Scotland will hope that they can find him further up the pitch in their upcoming matches so that they can utilise his natural goal-scoring ability from midfield.
Group B:
Spain – Rodri
12.28 Progressive Passes (99th Percentile)
0.27 Assists (97th Percentile)
7.12 Ball Recoveries (91st Percentile)
There is no better player to have at the base of a possession-based midfield than Rodri. He is arguably the best player in his position and is a crucial cog for club and country. He is a monster defensively as a screen to the defence while also offering a surprising amount going forward. Arguably one of the best in the world at receiving the ball on the half turn, he is efficient at advancing play, which can be seen in his progressive passes stat. This will be the first time we see his complete skillset utilised at a major international tournament, as the presence of Sergio Busquets essentially meant he played at centre-back previously. His winning goal against Inter Milan in the Champions League final shows he is not afraid of a big moment, which will be invaluable if Spain progresses to the knockouts. At club level, he is unbeaten in 74 matches, the longest streak in club football history. Spain will hope he can carry on this form in the Euros. Despite their comfortable win against Croatia, he was arguably lucky not to get sent off for the penalty he gave away.
Croatia – Luka Modric
10.37 Progressive Passes (99th Percentile)
5.81 Shot-Creating Actions (99th Percentile)
2.95 Progressive Carries (95th Percentile)
Modric seems just to be getting better with age. The now six-time Champions League winner is huge for Croatia’s chances. He might not cover as much distance as he used to, but his creativity stats speak for themselves. Croatia does not seem to be considered in contention to win the Euros, but in previous years, their best performances have come as dark horses. Many think they have an ageing team that is too past its prime to compete. Dalic will certainly have Croatia in a solid structure. Teams often need X factor to progress deep into these international tournaments. Luka Modric has this in abundance, and Croatia hopes to see yet another outstanding tournament for the 38-year-old. Their first match against Spain was not promising. However, Spain is by far the strongest opposition they will face in the group, but they still need to improve in the next two matches.
Italy – Nicolo Barella
4.45 Shot-Creating Actions (94th Percentile)
8.80 Progressive Passes (97th Percentile)
0.62 Goal-Creating Actions (98th Percentile)
Italy are a side that pride themselves on their backline. Barella is a midfielder who can unlock an opponent’s defence on the other end. He is an elite creator who will provide many chances for the Italian forwards. This might be needed due to Italy’s striker struggles, with Scamacca looking likely to start. This side has very few external expectations for the tournament despite them being the current holders. Many have predicted they will go out in the groups. This will allow Italy to play freely without the weight of expectation, maybe making for a more successful tournament than many anticipate. Barella’s importance was shown in their first group-stage win against Albania, where he scored and got man of the match.
Albania – Kristjan Asllani
0.18 Assists (83rd Percentile)
81.65 Passes Attempted (95th Percentile)
0.45 Goal-Creating Actions (88th Percentile)
Asllani will be a massive player for Albania at this tournament. Sylvinho, the Albanian coach, praised Asllani as a ‘technical’ player who is ‘excellent with both feet’. He is not a starter for his club, Inter Milan, but he has been regularly involved throughout the season. This tournament could be the chance for him to become a starter next season, and at 22, he could be a breakout star at the tournament. His dead-ball ability could be a real asset to Albania, especially as they will likely have limited open-play chances. Overall, it will be interesting to see how Asllani copes as the main player in a team on a big stage. He performed well against Italy, with Albania nearly snatching a draw at the end. They will hope they can pick up results in their remaining two games.
Group C:
Slovenia – Jan Oblak
1.08 Post-Shot Expected Goals (82nd Percentile)
1.17 Goals Against (74th Percentile)
A few years ago, Jan Oblak was viewed as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Although his performances have dropped off slightly in recent years, there is no denying his quality. A smaller team like Slovenia will probably not dominate games, so having a reliable goalkeeper like Oblak is crucial. He is a competent shot-stopper, so teams will struggle to score from distance. His notable weakness is his ball-playing ability. However, the Slovenia gameplan will likely be played longer to the 6”5 Sesko, so this should not be a problem. There are rumours that he is also available for transfer this summer, so what better way to attract suitors than having a good Euros performance. Slovenia needs him to be at his best if they are to progress through the group.
Denmark – Rasmus Højlund
0.31 Goals/Shot (98th Percentile)
0.51 Non-Penalty Goals (75th Percentile)
It is a challenging task for a young striker to play as the primary number nine for Manchester United. All things considered, Højlund has done a decent job. He failed to score in his first 14 Premier League matches. After this, he became the youngest player to score in six straight Premier League games. For Denmark, he scored 7 in qualifying, which made him the fifth-highest scorer in the competition. They will be relying on his goalscoring prowess at the Euros, as striker is a position Denmark have often struggled at. He has creative players surrounding him, and the experience of Christian Eriksen could be key to Højlund having a good tournament as a fellow clubmate. They reached the semi-finals at the last Euros, so they will hope to build on this and go all the way in Germany.
Serbia – Lazar Samardzic
2.35 Key Passes (96th Percentile)
1.78 Successful Take-Ons (96th Percentile)
0.23 Goals (94th Percentile)
Many Serbian journalists call Lazar Samardzic the next Dusan Tadic, and it’s for good reason. Samardzic is an exciting young player who can beat a man while also creating through key passes. He was eligible to play for Germany and was born in Berlin, so it was a huge coup when he declared for Serbia. He plays his club football at Udinese and contributed eight goals this season from midfield. This will be his first major tournament for Serbia, making him a relatively unknown talent on this stage. This is another example of a player that could earn a big move this Summer with a good Euros performance.
England – Harry Kane
0.83 Non-Penalty Goals (99th Percentile)
0.28 Assists (90th Percentile)
3.37 Progressive Passes (89th Percentile)
After a strong season for Bayern Munich, Harry Kane will go into the Euros as the leading man for England again. He started slow at the last Euros but still managed to bag four goals overall. Southgate bravely decided not to include Sterling and Rashford in their squad, who contributed heavily to the scoring department at previous tournaments. Kane has 63 international goals; the next highest in the squad is Saka with 11 and Foden with 4. This is a worrying statistic for England and they hope that younger players can step up to replace the goals missed from dropped players. Could this be the downfall for Gareth Southgate and England?
Group D:
Poland – Robert Lewandowski
0.57 Goals (75th Percentile)
0.23 Assists (80th Percentile)
50.7 % of Aerials Won (79th Percentile)
The 11-time Polish Player of the Year winner has been consistent internationally for many years. Now plying his trade in Spain, he scored 19 league goals and got eight assists this season. Poland qualified for the Euros by beating Wales on penalties and hardly looked convincing. Their main problem is supplying the service for Lewandowski. At 35, Lewandowski struggles to create chances himself but will finish any he does get. Michał Probierz, the Poland manager, will be hoping they can supply him with opportunities to maximise their chances of progressing in the tournament.
Netherlands – Virgil van Dijk
81.3 % of Dribblers Tackled (98th Percentile)
81.7 % of Aerials Won (99th Percentile)
5.59 Progressive Passes (91st Percentile)
Virgil van Dijk is the perfect example of a Rolls-Royce centre-back with no flaws in his game. He is an absolute rock at the back for the Netherlands, and their group of centre-backs is arguably the most vital part of their team. His presence at corners will also be a real asset, and with a good delivery, he almost guarantees at least a goal. The injuries of Koopmeiners and de Jong have given Ronald Koeman a real selection crisis in midfield. A possible back five might be their best option, with the attacking prowess of Frimpong, Maatsen and Dumfries at wingback guaranteed to create chances.
Austria – Nicolas Seiwald
3.82 Tackles (99th Percentile)
0.18 Assists (83rd Percentile)
1.55 Blocks (80th Percentile)
With the absence of David Alaba due to injury, it was challenging to pick a standout player for Austria. Seiwald will be critical in Rangnick’s team. He plays for RB Leipzig and is a versatile player who can also slot into right-back, which is always a useful quality at an international tournament. His defensive statistics are elite, with him being a great tackler and presser. These are both perfect qualities for Ragnick’s gegenpress system. Additionally, he has some creativity and can chime in with assists. All of these contribute to him being a great system player for Rangnick to utilise.
France – Kylian Mbappe
0.72 Non-Penalty Goals (95th Percentile)
2.70 Successful Take-Ons (99th Percentile)
5.20 Progressive Carries (98th Percentile)
This France team has so much quality, and Mbappe is the epitome of this. His explosiveness and directness make him one of the most exciting players in the world to watch. He was the top scorer of the World Cup two years ago with eight goals but did not bring home the trophy. France will be out to prove they are still the best team in Europe, and Mbappe is at the centre of this. With his free transfer to Real Madrid, he will also have the motive to show he is still the main man despite all the talent Madrid has. France has to be one of the main favourites for the competition.
Group E:
Belgium – Kevin De Bruyne
0.38 Non-Penalty Goals (99th Percentage)
0.76 Assists (99th Percentile)
3.35 Progressive Carries (97th Percentile)
Belgium has something to prove on the international stage. The peak of their golden generation achieved nothing, but they still have a few remaining for what could be their last tournament. The leading man is Kevin De Bruyne. His statistics going forward are some of the best in the world, but these are not required to see how good a player he is. He dictates the game and can unlock any defence on his day. The main problem for Tedesco is their defence. If Belgium is able not to concede too many goals and supply the ball for De Bruyne, they will go deep into the tournament.
Slovakia – Dávid Hancko
0.12 Non-Penalty Goals (94th Percentile)
8.07 Progressive Passes (99th Percentile)
6.94 Ball Recoveries (98th Percentile)
Hancko is not necessarily the centre-back most would identify as the key player when his partner is Milan Škriniar, but his credentials are impressive. He plays for Feyenoord and stands at 6 foot 2, making him a real presence in the air on the attacking end. He is a physical specimen who possesses a surprising amount of pace for his size and is a player that I would not be surprised if Arne Slot brought with him to Liverpool. He is a natural progressive ball player and will be essential for Slovakia. Calzona, the Slovakia coach, will rely on his defence to make a solid base for their counter-attacking football. This will be vital to picking up any results at these Euros.
Romania – Radu Drăgușin
91.7 % of Dribblers Tackled (99th Percentile)
68.4 % of Aerials Won (86th Percentile)
0.08 Non-Penalty Goals (80th Percentile)
Drăgușin has already signed a big-money deal with Tottenham from Genoa. He has only had four starts for them since January, so this tournament could be a chance to show his prowess. He is an aerially talented centre-back who can also play right-back. Defensively, his athletic ability makes him a challenging defender to dribble past. Iordănescu sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 where Drăgușin is a vital component at right centre-back. His biggest problem is their number 9, with the absence of their regular striker, Alibec. It is a struggle to envision where goals will come from in the Romanian team.
Ukraine – Artem Dovbyk
0.59 Non-Penalty Goals (85th Percentile)
0.28 Assists (91st Percentile)
0.22 Goals/Shot (90th Percentile)
Girona had an outstanding season and will play Champions League football next year, the main reason for which being Artem Dovbyk. He netted 24 goals and provided eight assists, leading a team that was the second-highest scorers in La Liga after Real Madrid. He is a 6 foot 2 target man who is clinical in front of goal. His goals could be vital for Ukraine. Their main problem will be supplying the chances for him. Dovbyk thrives most when there is room to run in behind, which should be plentiful in this Euros. Mudryk and Tsygankov will have a big job supplying Dovbyk with goalscoring opportunities. Ukraine will be disappointed not to qualify from their group with the favourable draw they have been given and might even fancy themselves to finish top.
Group F:
Turkey – Hakan Çalhanoğlu
0.41 Goals (99th Percentile)
1.91 Key Passes (90th Percentile)
3.79 Shot-Creating Actions (89th Percentile)
In the last Euros, Turkey received a lot of media attention as a dark horse but ultimately disappointed. Vincenzo Montella will hope to change their fortunes, and a critical factor in this is maximising the output of Hakan Çalhanoğlu. He is a ridiculously talented player and scored 13 goals for Inter Milan in their title-winning season. His dead-ball ability is very useful for the Turkish side; it supplies a factor that can instantly change a game, no matter who is dominating. As his career has progressed, he has developed into a deeper playmaker who can control a game and will take a similar role in Montella’s side. If he is firing, Turkey will be the favourite to take second place in the group.
Georgia – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
6.24 Progressive Carries (97th Percentile)
3.44 Successful Take-Ons (95th Percentile)
5.21 Shot-Creating Actions (86th Percentile)
Georgia is a real wildcard for the competition and has many unknown talents within its team. They qualified for the playoffs through their Nations League position. They then beat Luxembourg and, more notably, Greece on penalties. The star man of their team is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a worldwide name who plays on the left wing for Napoli. He scored 11 goals and assisted six over the season, looking dangerous throughout. Willy Sagnol will set his team up to counterattack, and Kvaratskhelia will be their main threat. This is the first time they have ever qualified for the Euros, so it is a hugely exciting time to be a Georgia fan.
Portugal – Bruno Fernandes
8.14 Progressive Passes (98th Percentile)
5.83 Shot-Creating Actions (94th Percentile)
2.73 Tackles + Interceptions (90th Percentile)
Bruno Fernandes is one of the best creators in Europe. His impressive shot-creating actions statistic shows that he is the perfect player to play behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Over the last season, he had 18 goal involvements for Manchester United, and it is important to remember that it is a pretty dysfunctional team. An underrated part of Bruno Fernandes’ game is his pressing, as shown by his impressive dispossession statistics. This will be valuable for Portugal. Roberto Martinez is poorly regarded as an international manager due to his spell with Belgium, and this Portugal team has looked underwhelming in international tournaments since they won in 2016. This could be the last tournament for Ronaldo, making it even bigger from a Portuguese perspective.
Czechia – Tomáš Souček
0.23 Non-Penalty Goals (97th Percentile)
59.3 % of Aerials Won (86th Percentile)
3.15 Clearances (99th Percentile)
The Czech Republic is always a solid side at the Euros, but they will be looking to show more this year. Ivan Hasek will use Souček’s goals from midfield to help achieve this. He scored seven goals for West Ham in the Premier League, starting nearly every game. His aerial prowess will be helpful at corners, while he supplies physicality in the Czech midfield. Combining this with players like Patrick Schick makes them a real threat from set pieces. Like Turkey, the Czech Republic will fancy themselves to gain second place in the group. Their final group stage game against Turkey on the 26th of June should be a huge game.
*All stats per 90, based on their club stats in the last year and percentage is a comparison to their position (obtained from FBRef)
Harri Roblin 
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