When the teams have been drawn for Euro 2024, not many predicted that Austria would prime Group D forward of France and the Netherlands.
After an distinctive and dramatic last matchday in a fiercely contested group, Ralf Rangnick’s aspect lived as much as their tag as darkish horses with victories towards the Dutch and Poland. Whereas France and the Netherlands did make it to the knockout phases, they’ve remarkably needed to accept second and third respectively, having struggled to get out of second gear.
Whereas not all matches in Group D have been belters, there have been loads of magical moments from some sensational stars. Properly, apart from Poland, who have been fairly terrible as anticipated.
Listed below are the six gamers who shone brightest in Group D.
Austria have been the shock package deal of Group D. Their depth and vitality proved tough for his or her opposition, with Rangnick’s high-octane method definitely making them essentially the most pleasurable aspect to look at at Euro 2024 to date. One cause for his or her distinctive shows was Nicolas Seiwald.
The RB Leipzig man anchored Austria in midfield and hardly put a foot incorrect over three spectacular shows. He set the tone within the engine room and coated each blade of grass, but in addition managed to create six probabilities in Group D – essentially the most amongst his teammates.
Having performed each minute of each recreation, he has confirmed indispensable in an industrious midfield, partnering Florian Grillitsch successfully on the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1.
Cody Gakpo has definitely taken his end-of-season type with Liverpool into Euro 2024. He managed two targets and an help in his last three Premier League video games for the Reds and continued his nice goalscoring type in Group D, netting towards Poland and Austria.
With two comparable strikes after chopping in from the left-hand aspect, Gakpo has definitely proven new Liverpool boss Arne Slot that his greatest place is on the flank. He has been courageous in possession, continuously taking up his full-back, and leads the best way for probabilities created (eight) and massive probabilities created (two) for the Oranje.
He deservedly earned himself the Participant of the Match award for an impressive show towards Poland and has been the Netherlands’ deadliest risk.
With France having underwhelmed at Euro 2024 to this point and scoring simply twice – an personal aim and a penalty – their defence has stood tallest. William Saliba has been spectacular, as has Jules Kounde at right-back, however Mike Maignan has been surprisingly busy in Group D.
The Milan stopper produced some robust saves in clear sheets towards Austria and the Netherlands, along with his commanding presence inside his personal penalty space proving important. He has averaged three saves per match to date, saving 90% of the photographs on course that France have conceded.
Maignan additionally saved a penalty towards Poland, though the goalkeeper was barely off his line when Robert Lewandowski’s spot kick was taken. Sadly for France, he could not fairly deny the Barcelona ahead when the kick was retaken.
Having suffered heartbreak within the Champions League last with Borussia Dortmund on the finish of the 2023/24 season, Marcel Sabitzer has bounced again with a bang. In a relentless Austria aspect, his vitality alongside fellow Bundesliga stars Seiwald and Konrad Laimer in central areas has been key.
Requested to play in a extra superior place by Rangnick, typically drifting into wider areas, Sabitzer has been a box-to-box risk. He has averaged extra photographs than any of his teammates, discovering the again of the online with an exquisite late strike towards the Netherlands that received Group D for Austria.
Like he has accomplished for a lot of the season with Dortmund, Sabitzer has been effortlessly spectacular in Germany.
N’Golo Kante’s inclusion in France’s Euro 2024 squad did elevate a couple of eyebrows. Now plying his commerce within the Saudi Professional League, the previous Leicester and Chelsea midfielder is 33 years of age and now not testing himself towards Europe’s elite. May the Frenchman nonetheless carry out on the highest degree?
Properly, Kante offered an emphatic response to any doubters. Participant of the Match within the 1-0 win over Austria with a classic Kante show, the Al Ittihad man collected the accolade in France’s second event recreation towards the Netherlands too. It was one other unabating show from the indefatigable midfielder.
Bar Kylian Mbappe, Kante could now simply be the primary identify on Didier Deschamps’ group sheet.
With France and the Netherlands having didn’t persuade in Group D, Austria have produced the standout performances. A kind of that shone amongst Rangnick’s cohort was Christoph Baumgartner.
One other one in every of Austria’s Bundesliga boys, Baumgartner was significantly efficient in his aspect’s 3-1 win over Poland. The RB Leipzig midfielder netted a ravishing effort to finish the scoring in that conflict, whereas including an help to his tally for Sabitzer’s winner towards the Dutch with a neat go past the backline.
Enjoying simply behind a central striker, his tempo and directness has brought about opposition defenders all method of issues.
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