Midfielders:
With both full-backs being attack minded, Mousa Dembele (Belgium) will play as the central defensive midfielder screening the defence and distributing the ball with his excellent passing abilities. Although he played a crucial role in Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League campaign, he was not a part of Marc Wilmots’s plans at Euro 2016 and managed to get a playing time of just 57 minutes.
In front of Dembele will be the duo of Ross Barkley (England) and Koke (Spain), adding energy to the midfield. Ross Barkley, a definite starter for Everton failed to make a single appearance at Euro 2016 despite entering the tournament with his best season tally of 12 goals and 8 assists.
Koke is an integral cog in the Atletico Madrid team and is known for his playmaking abilities. He made the second most number of assists (14) in La Liga 2015-16. However, Koke made just one appearance as a substitute in the 73rd minute, as Vincente del Bosque preferred playing Cesc Fabregas who came in from a sticky spell at Chelsea.
His presence in the midfield against Italy could have possibly turned tables for Spain.
