European Championship center stages phenomenon player from the continent, writing their name forever in the tournament history books. This year the stakes are even high with raw talents and the known veterans mix it up to create a fine product. We pick the five best names from the bunch of class players in each position that will presumably be ringing in everyone's lips.
'Attack wins you games, defense wins you titles ', as rightly said the combination of both makes a team unstoppable. This legendary quote from the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson speaks the fulcrum of the game but it somewhat submerges the responsibility of the midfield. Midfielders are the unsung hero of a football team.
A team is said to be terrible if it fails to construct a midfield three, pair, or pivot and cannot provide the required balance. So, this position is more important than it seems. Similarly, these five midfielders will be hoping to do a great job for their nation at the Euros. Their role in their team is the toughest one but with their talent, class and quality they will make it easy.
1) Nicolo Barella (Italy)
Marco Verratti and Jorginho will play an extensive midfield role for Italy both in passing and pressing. However, 24-year-old Nicolo Barella's skills and box-to-box playing ability will give Italy dominance in midfield. A quick, tactically intelligent player with an eye for goal, Barella is a complete midfield package. Excelling in the club level with Inter under the tutelage of Antonio Conte, Barella carried his brilliance to the national team. Italy's manager Roberto Manchini gave Barella the license to care more on the attacking side and it made him flourish. As a case, the Azzurri improved significantly in an attack by scoring plenty of goals in Euro qualifying while keeping their defense intact. Barella's improvisation is a key factor for Italy's supremacy at the Euros.
2) Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Belgium fans breathed a sigh of relief when doctors didn't register Kevin De Bruyne's facial injury, sustained in the Champions League final, as serious. Although he is likely to miss at least Belgium's opener against Russia in the Euros, De Bruyne's fierceness in the final third is an utmost requirement for the 'Red Devils'. The world-class midfielder was named the PFA player of the 2020/21 season after guiding his club Manchester City to yet another elusive Premier League title. One of the best playmakers in the world, his multiple individual honors set the stage for him to do a grandstand at the International level. There will be no better story to script other than leading this golden generation Belgian side to a Euro title. His insane number of assists in the arsenal for Eden Hazard or a certain Romelu Lukaku is making everyone wonder about their chances of doing it this summer.
3) N'Golo Kante (France)
Naturally, the focus will be on the attacking midfielders but the man responsible to screen the defense and resisting opponents to get past them should be given equal credit. France N'Golo Kante does this role so spectacularly that it seems there are clones of him playing all around the pitch. The areas he covers in the midfield, interceptions and tackles are spot-on. In the Champions League final win with Chelsea, he was impenetrable and was rightly voted the man of the match. His countless extraordinary performances this season puts him make him a prime contender of Balon d'Or this year. Kante went on to win the World Cup with France but his debut competition, Euro 2016 ended distastefully. That loss in the final is surely on his mind and Euro 2020 will be the stage for him and France's redemption.
4) Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
Die Mannschaft is heading into Euro 2020 as a wounded lion. The 2018 World Cup disappointment still haunts them and the cumulative pressure of not providing decisive results after the tournament has led 2014 WC-winning manager Joachim Low to step down after the tournament. he will be hoping for his players to step up before his final goodbye. The man ready to fulfill his boss's wishes is Joshua Kimmich. His versatility, passing, shooting, tackling and aggression makes him a deadly player for the opposition to keep in check. Bayern Munich's dependable midfielder is Germany's go-to guy. While Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller's much-needed recall strengthened up the team, Kimmich's leadership is still exceptional. Joshua's constant bellowing out instructions, motivating his teammates and sheer passion will help Germany in long run.
5) Mason Mount (England)
England is boasting a more talented squad than the one played in the 2018 World Cup and even more than the one lost to Iceland in the 2016 Euros. It is now left to see how Gareth Southgate's men demonstrate their talent and quality on the pitch. One of many talents in the team is midfielder Mason Mount. Capable of rotating his role from a number eight to a number ten with or without possession makes him a real asset to the England team. With Chelsea, he already delivered massively in their Champions League triumphing season. His line-breaking passes, progressive runs and a knick of scoring goals with positional changes make him hard to defend. Mount's link-up play in one-two passes makes him a fascinating attacking module. The genius of the 22-year-old is favouring attacking football for England at the Euros.
