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#3 Jadon Sancho - England
There have been several appeals all over England for Jadon Sancho to start in recent days, and the fans finally got what they wanted in the Euro 2020 quarterfinal against Ukraine. The game against Germany saw a lot of discourse surrounding Sancho and his knowledge of German teams, but you have to give credit to Gareth Southgate for his excellent squad management at Euro 2020.
With the transfer saga that has taken place with Sancho over the past week, it’s perfectly understandable that the manager didn’t want a player on the pitch with his mind elsewhere. With his transfer situation now resolved, Jadon Sancho is likely to feature much more in England’s plans at Euro 2020.
As far as Jadon Sancho’s role in the team is concerned, England often seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place. Gareth Southgate has set his teams up to control games with defensive solidity often being the priority, Sancho’s exciting brand of attacking football will not always be required. Against teams like Denmark, however, the winger can be virtually unplayable in one-on-one situations and can force the issue in the final third.
England have a wealth of attacking options and Gareth Southgate has relied heavily on Phil Foden and Mason Mount. With Foden unable to make much of an impact at Euro 2020, we could see Jadon Sancho step up as the ideal replacement.
#2 Thiago Alcantara - Spain
It’s funny in hindsight – I had heard Luis Enrique speaking before Spain’s Euro 2020 campaign and he said that they weren’t a great passing team, they weren’t like the golden generation we saw a few years ago. Given what we’ve seen over the past few matches, I’d say these Spanish players are more like their predecessors than their manager would have us believe.
That being said, Spain have struggled to break some of their opponents down with their approach to the game. They did score 10 goals in two matches but most of those goals had more to do with the opposition than Spain’s own methods. In games where opponents make it hard for you to find those spaces, a player like Thiago Alcantara could make a massive difference.
At the moment, Thiago Alcantara is Spain’s experienced head on the bench, guiding his younger teammates as they navigate the challenges posed by a major international tournament. For Liverpool, Thiago finds passes that you wouldn’t normally see on a football pitch. Spain face Italy in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, and the experience of Thiago Alcantara could come in handy.
In a major tournament like Euro 2020, it’s easy to get caught up in a bubble. I distinctly recall the Neville brothers poring over videos of the opposition, analyzing every aspect of their game. I do occasionally wonder if the Italians are similar because they seem to know everything about the opponents they face at the Euros. Mancini’s charges will likely know all there is to know about Spain’s midfield, and a player like Thiago could ensure that Luis Enrique wins the tactical battle.
Spain have dominated possession so far but might not find it as easy to keep the ball against Roberto Mancini’s Italy. Thiago is excellent with the ball at his feet and his battle against the experience of Chiellini and Bonucci would be a fascinating watch.
#1 Jack Grealish - England
Jack Grealish has not had much playing time at Euro 2020, but his performance against Germany was proof in the pudding. Grealish is an impact player and has the innate ability to change the game with his style of play. We’ve seen it with Aston Villa – they’ve struggled in his absence and his influence at club level is nothing short of massive.
Grealish’s consistent inclusion in the England team could be problematic for only one specific reason. Referees at Euro 2020 have been more reluctant to award fouls as compared to the Premier League and have often allowed play to continue despite the occasional harsh tackle.
Grealish is one of the most fouled players in the Premier League and usually does exceedingly well to get into positions where he can win the free kick. At the Euros, however, this particular aspect of his game might work against England, with teams breaking on the counter.
Jack Grealish is certainly capable of tweaking his game to suit the Euros and does need more game time to prove his mettle. There was a moment before he came on at Wembley when the cameras panned to his face on the bench and a roar was heard around the stadium. Gareth Southgate is not going to bow to the wants of his fanbase, but the poignancy of the moment did not go unnoticed.
With so many talented players in their squad, the fans did not have a go-to player before Euro 2020 started. They do have one now in Grealish, but they’ve seen only glimpses of his ability so far in the tournament. The likes of Mount and Foden have done well for England at Euro 2020, but the impact that Jack Grealish has on his team’s fortunes makes him a special player.
