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The Euro 2020 group stage is now officially complete. Across the 36 matches, there have already been multiple players who have created a lasting impression on the fans. Some of these individuals may not have played a prominent role if not for the COVID-19-induced rescheduling. Instead, they have made more fancied opponents look dumbfounded and provided the spark when their teams have needed it most at Euro 2020.
When the various squad lists were released for the tournament, it was revealed that only 42 players traveled to Euro 2020 from La Liga. This was in stark comparison to 118 from the Premier League, which was the highest among the top five European leagues. The Spanish top-flight, regardless of the number, sent some talented individuals to represent their countries. Some of these players have been excellent so far at Euro 2020 and will look to guide their teams deep into the knockouts as well.
In that vein, we look at three players from La Liga who have possibly benefitted the most from Euro 2020 taking place this summer instead of the last:
#3 Yannick Carrasco (Belgium)
Carrasco is yet another bludgeoning talent in this generational Belgium side. The winger revitalized his European club career only at the start of 2020 when he re-joined Atletico Madrid. Carrasco is likely to have made the Belgium squad for Euro 2020 last year as well, but he clearly holds more prominence for Roberto Martinez’s men this year.
The 27-year-old won the Spanish top flight with Atletico in the 2020/21 season, playing a starring role in Diego Simeone's side. His crowning moment came early in the season when he scored the only goal against Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano. But Carrasco was incredibly consistent for Diego Simeone’s men otherwise as well, a trait that he seldom displayed previously.
The Belgian largely played in a deeper role on the left ahead of a back three. Carrasco’s stats in the 2020-21 season were outstanding. He registered seven goals and 11 assists across all competitions. A deeper look at his attacking stats show that he averaged 1.82 key passes (passes that led to a shot) and 1.73 final-third passes (excluding set-pieces) per 90 minutes in the league. This put him in the 98th and 90th percentile in comparison to his positional peers, which is fantastic given Carrasco’s relative inexperience in the position.
He was key defensively for Atletico as well. Given the low-block tactic that Simeone employs, you would think Carrasco’s figures wouldn’t make for great reading in higher areas of the pitch. However, the Belgian provided an extra edge to his club by leading an extensive press in the final third. Carrasco averaged 0.29 tackles and 4.50 pressures (number of times pressure is applied on an opposing player who is receiving, carrying or releasing the ball) in the final third per 90.
There are clearly multiple dimensions to Carrasco’s game now and he could prove crucial for Belgium in the Euro 2020 knockout stages.
#2 Alexander Isak (Sweden)
Isak has quickly grown into a household name in the last year or so. The Swedish striker, who broke through the ranks at Borussia Dortmund before joining Real Sociedad in 2019, was fantastic last season. Isak scored 17 goals in 34 league games to guide Imanol Alguacil’s men to a 2021-22 Europa League spot. The Swede had a vastly inferior 2019-20 season in comparison. While he might still have been selected for Sweden's Euro 2020 squad last summer, there is a good chance he wouldn’t have featured very prominently.
Apart from his instinctive goalscoring, the 21-year-old has numerous facets to his attacking play. Isak averaged 0.88 ball carries into the penalty box per 90 in the league, placing him among the 83rd percentile in the category. He troubled opposition defenders with his pace, a feature of his play he often displayed at Euro 2020, as well. Isak dribbled past 1.54 players on average per 90 in the 2020-21 La Liga. He also averaged 1.85 shot-creating actions per game.
Isak is often seen as an out-and-out attacker due to his numbers. But his seemingly inadequate stats in the defensive and central thirds of the pitch are bound to change soon. During the Euro 2020 group stages, Isak could often be seen pulling himself back to collect the ball and take on defenders.
The young Swede is inevitably his country’s primary target man at Euro 2020, but has also shown that he can be the initiator of moves from further back. This might prove to be vital for Sweden’s chances during the Euro 2020 knockouts.
#1 Pedri Gonzalez (Spain)
The latest Spanish wonderkid has left plenty of defenders in his wake at Euro 2020. Pedri consistently made headlines while turning out for Barcelona last season. The youngster plied his trade with Las Palmas before moving to the Spanish giants in 2020. As a result, it seems fair to assume he would not have made Luis Enrique’s Euro 2020 squad if the tournament had taken place last year.
There is a lot to break down in Pedri’s game. The 18-year-old is astute on the ball and is fantastic at breaking opposition lines with passing. Pedri doesn’t rank too well on conventional stats such as goals scored or assists provided. His game often transcends these numbers and the Barcelona midfielder thrives at linking up plays that could potentially lead to goals.
It is worth noting that Pedri has played in teams that have struggled from a profligacy in front of goal in the last year. He ranked 0.30 through balls and 10.81 passes under pressure from opponents per 90 for Barcelona in the league last season. Pedri ranks among the 90th and 94th percentile for these numbers respectively, which is simply incredible.
He is also hard-working defensively. The Barcelona man averaged 7.04 successful pressures (number of times the squad gained possession within five seconds of applying pressure) per 90 in La Liga last season. The number puts him at the 96th percentile for the same, while his 2.16 passes blocked per 90 places him in the 99th percentile for that stat.
Pedri is a fantastic footballer without the stats to back it up. His movement and passing against Slovakia on Matchday 3 of Euro 2020 is testament to that. But the numbers only help display just how Pedri has thrived barely a year into his career at the highest level.
As Spain prepare for the Euro 2020 knockouts, Enrique will know he has one of the best young players in the world right now on his hands. The Spanish coach will hope Pedri delivers on the biggest stage.
