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UEFA Euro 2020 is almost upon us, as some of the biggest nations across the continent prepare to go head-to-head to reign supreme. The 16th edition of the tournament was initially scheduled to kick off last year but was postponed due to the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global pandemic has eased out a little bit in Europe, so fans will be allowed to return to stadiums, albeit in limited numbers. Nevertheless, Euro 2020 promises to be an exciting time for football fans, as 12 host cities were confirmed earlier this year, with the Wembley Stadium in London scheduled to host the final.
Twenty-four teams will take part in Euro 2020, with 51 matches set to be played between the 11th of June and the 11th of July.
Portugal enter the tournament as defending champions after their heroics at Euro 2016, as Cristiano Ronaldo and co look to retain their crown. Eder, who scored the winning goal against France in the final that year, is not part of Fernando Santos' squad, but Portugal have enough firepower to make their presence felt in the tournament.
Italy and the Netherlands are set to participate in a major tournament after a long hiatus, as the two nations failed to secure qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
A handful of players could be taking part in the European Championships for the last time, as they enter the twilight years of their careers. On that note, here are five players above the age of 30 who can dominate Euro 2020.
#5 Manuel Neuer | Germany
Manuel Neuer might be 35, but he has proved in the past two seasons that he's more than good enough to carry on playing. The German international is one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history and could complete his CV by winning Euro 2020 as captain.
Neuer has won every major trophy with Bayern Munich and also managed to get his hands on the FIFA World Cup in 2014 with Germany. The European Championship, however, has eluded him so far, but you wouldn't bet against Germany having a decent run out in what is set to be Joachim Low's last tournament as manager.
Germany are in Group F with France, Hungary and Portugal, so Neuer will have to be at his best to keep out some of the best attackers in the world and spearhead his side to the knockout stages.
#4 Luka Modric | Croatia
Luka Modric won the Golden Ball at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and will look to lead Croatia from the front at Euro 2020. The legendary midfielder won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time, as he continues to produce the goods for club and country.
Croatia are in Group D with England, Czech Republic and Scotland and have a decent chance of making it through to the knockout stages. Zlatko Dalic will count on his midfield to deliver the goods in a major tournament, with the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic in the running to play alongside Modric.
However, the 35-year-old is not getting any younger, so Euro 2020 could be the last time he takes part in the competition. Only time will tell if Modric decides to stick around for the 2021 FIFA World Cup in Qatar before retiring.
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#3 Robert Lewandowski | Poland
Robert Lewandowski has scored goals at an unbelievable rate for Bayern Munich and will look to replicate his exploits for Poland. The veteran striker recently broke Gerd Muller's record for the highest number of goals scored in a single Bundesliga season, as he scored a staggering 41 goals for the Bavarian giants in the 2020-21 campaign.
The 32-year-old is undoubtedly Poland's star man but also has a decent supporting cast, with Arkadiusz Milik set to play second fiddle to him. Poland are in Group E with Slovakia, Spain and Sweden, so qualification to the knockout stages is not as straightforward as they'd like for Paulo Sousa's side.
That said, if Lewandowski continues his outrageous goalscoring form, Poland could be a force to be reckoned with at Euro 2020.
#2 Karim Benzema | France
Karim Benzema's return to the French squad sent shockwaves across Europe, with Les Bleus widely regarded as the favorites to win the competition after his recall to the team. The Real Madrid striker has been one of the most consistent attackers in the world in recent years and is all set to go down as a modern-day great at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Benzema, however, is yet to win a major trophy in France, as he was snubbed by Didier Deschamps for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The pair have since resolved their differences and are ready to take Euro 2020 by storm, with the Real Madrid striker expected to play upfront alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
He might be 33, but Benzema has aged like fine wine and is currently one of the most complete attackers on the planet.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal
Unsurprisingly, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list. The Juventus hitman is the highest active international goalscorer and is just seven goals shy of breaking Iranian icon Ali Daei's record of 109 goals. Fernando Santos will count on his talisman to deliver the goods at Euro 2020, but Portugal have a much stronger squad than what was the case at Euro 2016.
The likes of Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota are all coming on the back of outstanding seasons in the Premier League, while Portugal also have a handful of experienced players to count on.
Cristiano Ronaldo, though, will undoubtedly be their star attraction, as Portugal look to create history by defending their crown at Euro 2020.
Also Read: 6 midfielders who have won the Man of the Match award in a UEFA Champions League Final
