The Euro 2024 group levels surprisingly weren’t outlined by Ballon d’Or candidates like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
Additionally they weren’t outlined by the pre-tournament favourites England and France, who laboured into the final 16 reasonably than spectacularly waltzing by way of like many had predicted they might.
As a substitute, it was left to the likes of Georgia and Austria to steal the limelight – every nation doing simply that as victories over Portugal and the Netherlands helped advance them out of their respective teams.
Understandably, their spectacular outcomes and performances have been impressed by some high drawer particular person showings – a few of which have been adequate to earn a spot in 90min’s prestigious greatest XI of the group stage.
Nation: Georgia
Giorgi Mamardashvili has been linked with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Bayern Munich and it is fairly rattling straightforward to see why.
The 23-year-old has been the standout goalkeeper at Euro 2024 to date, and his efficiency towards Portugal within the closing group recreation might go down as one of many biggest goalkeeping performances within the event’s historical past.
Nation: Germany
After a 12 months of so-so type underneath Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich appears to have re-found his mojo underneath Julian Nagelsmann at Euro 2024.
The suitable-back has been distinctive for Germany so far, bombing up and down the flank just like the Kimmich of outdated. We merely like to see it.
Nation: Italy
When you sort ‘aura’ into the X search operate, chances are high you may see a tweet about Riccardo Calafiori.
And whereas a whole lot of the reward for Calafiori has come as a result of he appears like an Italian defender from the early 2000s, even probably the most cynical soccer fan on the market cannot deny {that a} large chunk of it has change into due to the excessive customary of performances he is put in.
The Bologna man has been incredible each on and off the ball for Italy – so good, in reality, that we’ll forgive him for scoring an personal purpose towards a extremely spectacular Spain facet.
Nation: England
Not many individuals anticipated Marc Guehi to be England’s solely good participant within the Euro 2024 group levels.
And but, that is precisely what he has been.
Whereas the gamers round him have floundered for probably the most half, the Crystal Palace centre-back has been incredible on the coronary heart of the Three Lions defence.
Nation: Spain
Sure, Marc Cucurella.
Sure, that Marc Cucurella.
Sure, that Marc Cucurella that performs for Chelsea.
Sure, he is truly been bloody sensible for Spain at Euro 2024 to date.
Sure, that could be a little bit of a shock.
Nation: Spain
On and off the ball, there wasn’t a greater midfielder than Fabian Ruiz throughout the Euro 2024 group levels.
The PSG man was distinctive, and was the standout from Spain’s stupidly gifted midfield which additionally contains Rodri and Pedri.
Nation: Germany
Again enjoying in his favoured extra superior attacking midfield position – after a season of soccer enjoying deeper in Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona facet – Ilkay Gundogan has been fairly rattling sensible so far for his nation.
The ex-Manchester Metropolis man’s greatest efficiency of the event so far undoubtedly got here on matchday two when he scored in a routine win over Hungary.
Nation: Austria
Austria have been the shock bundle of Euro 2024 so far, ending high of a gaggle which included each France and the Netherlands, and that’s largely because of their captain Marcel Sabitzer.
In addition to dictating the excessive tempo of their play, Sabitzer additionally popped up with various essential offensive contributions – together with a well-taken match winner towards the Dutch.
Nation: Spain
Essentially the most feared attacker at Euro 2024?
After his efficiency towards Italy, he needs to be.
Nico Williams has been electrical on the left flank for Spain so far, combining tempo, trickery and finish product with devastating impact.
Nation: Georgia
The highest goalscorer at Euro 2024 is none aside from Georges Mikautadze – a striker who presently performs for Ligue 2 facet Metz.
What a world we reside in.
Nation: Germany
Whereas Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and co. have struggled to get going so far, Jamal Musiala hasn’t.
Germany’s star attacker has been bloody incredible, netting two objectives, bagging a participant of the match award towards Scotland, and debuting a brand new Carmelo Anthony impressed celebration.
Prime stuff.
