The most impressive players at EURO 2024 so far (Part 1)

 

The Euro's are well underway and there has been some fantastic standouts so far, Of course there have been players who have matched expectations, such as Granit Xhaka, Rodri and the talented youngster Lamine Yamal. However I will be focusing on players who have been very good that you may never have even heard before the tournament kicked off.

Florin Nita- Romania Goalkeeper

Romania were not tipped by many to have a great run at the tournament, and even those who had hopes for the team focused their attention to more well known players, mainly Ianis Hagi. However Nita the goalkeeper has been a fantastic standout. Recieving an averaging sofascore rating of 7.43 which as placed him alongside bige name players like Antonio Rudiger and Mike Maignan. Nita's main strength is his shot stopping ability, saving 4.3 per game at an acurracy rate of 83%. He is an old school keeper who focuses more on saves than playing out from the back. At 37 years old this summer he certainly looks like he can still offer a few more years of service. A free agent currently, I expect him to have earned a move based on his performances alone.

Marius Marin- Romanian Midfielder

Sticking with Romania here, another player that has impressed me is Marius Marin, currently with Pisa in Italy. His ratings haven't lit the world on fire but he passes the eye test. A classic box to box midfielder who loves a tackle and celebrates every defensive move he makes. He is more of a ball winner than a playmaker this euros but a lot of this is due to Romania playing a counter attack style of play. Making 2.7 tackles per game, as well as recovering the ball 3 time sper game, his decision making is his main strength. Still only 25 years old, I wouldn't put it past a team making  amove for him. Although this is more likely next year with his contract running out. 

Ondrej Duda- Slovakia Midfielder

Slovakia suprised a few this Euro's, making it out the group stage and almost stealing a win from England. And one player that shone for me is Hellas Verona's Duda. Starting all 4 of his games and popping up with one goal, his all round game was fueled by his strong work rate. He was mainly played as a central midfielder but was all over the park playing in the attacking midfielder role as well as a modern ball playing cdm. Making 1.8 tackles per game and essentially constantly putting pressure on his opponent, he was a pure pest and this sometimes did get the better of him, fouling 2.3 times per game. But his smart decision making got him 1.5 fouls won per game. An overall smart player who rarely looked out of place the entire tournament, I would love to see him make a move, ideally for a lower Premier League side.

Dan Ndoye- Switzerland Winger

Switzerland have been brilliant so far and their high pressing attacking football has been a joy to watch. A huge part of this is their front three being consistent, and Bologna's Dan Ndoye is my standout. The modern winger seem very reluctant to actually dribble and take people on, often more likely trying to pass it in the goal. Dan Ndoye is a great example that you can do both. Completing 2 dribbles per game at a very respectable 67% success rate, Ndoye has all the tools a modern system requires, pace, high pressing leading to ball recovery (4.3 per game). The one thing that won't show up on the stat sheet however is his fantastic off ball movement. This was highlighted with Switzerlands opener vs Italy where he ran from flank to flank creating confusion for his defender which in turn led to him creating space where his team mate ran into to score. A very dangerous player on and off the ball and with Thiago Motta moving from Bologna to coach Juventus, don't be surprised to see Ndoye follow.

Peter Pekarik- Slovakia Right Back

Not many people expected much from Slovakia, especially when you looked at their starting lineup. A 37 year old right back who managed 5 games all season for Hertha Berlin doesn't exactly scream confidence. But never judge a book by it's cover they say and Pekarik certainly proved that. Keeping Mudryk, Coman and Doku quiet seems to have gone under the radar despite all of those players having blistering pace. His willingness to get forward was fantastic to watch as he showed no signs of his age as he was constantly overlapping. His stats are not the most eye catching but for any team that require their full back to bomb forward Pekarik can fit in with ease. I won't be surprised to see him make a move this summer as he certainly earned his move this summer.