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Euro 2020, like most international tournaments, had its fair share of drama, thrills, goals and upsets.
International football can often prove to be cagey affairs. Managers tend to resort to a pragmatic style of football that revolves around defensive solidity and maintaining shape. Due to the shortened period in which major international tournaments are played and the existence of knockout rounds, teams tend to focus more on keeping their opponents from scoring rather than doing so themselves.
Despite international football being defensively orientated and tactical, teams often depend on their attackers to win games, something that was no different at Euro 2020 as well. Semi-finalists Spain and winners Italy, traditionally known for their stout defence, topped the scoring charts at Euro 2020 with 13 goals apiece.
Quite a few attacking players from the two teams and a few others had success at Euro 2020. On that note, let us take a look at the five best attackers who dazzled at the tournament.
#5 Federico Chiesa (Italy)
Federico Chiesa enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign with Juventus last season. Despite the club enduring a dismal 2020-21 campaign, Chiesa was one of the shining lights for the Bianconeri. He scored 14 goals in 43 appearances, despite being on loan at the Italian giants.
Federico Chiesa carried that form into Euro 2020. After playing the role of an impact substitute in the first few games at Euro 2020, Chiesa started in Italy's final group game against Wales, where he picked up the Man of the Match award.
Chiesa scored his first goal of the tournament against Austria in the Round of 16, emulating his father Enrico, who scored at Euro 96. Chiesa then opened the scoring for Italy in their 1-1 draw with Spain in the semi-finals, which the Azzurri won on penalties.
Federico Chiesa's pace and directness gave an added dimension to Italy's attack. He was a livewire in the final against England, conjuring two decent chances before he hobbled off injured. Nevertheless, he had done enough to be named in the Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament.
#4 Raheem Sterling (England)
Raheem Sterling has often been one of the most criticised players in English football.
The Manchester City winger endured one of his most disappointing campaigns last season, as he scored just 14 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions, ending the campaign with just one strike in 16 games.
Thus, Sterling's inclusion in Gareth Southgate's starting line-up at Euro 2020 baffled most fans and pundits. However, the player repaid his manager's faith by scoring in the group-stage victories over Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Sterling also scored the opening goal in England's 2-0 victory over Germany in the Round of 16. The winger then won the game-winning penalty in extra time against Denmark in the semi-final, which helped England reach their first-ever European Championship final.
#3 Patrik Schick (Czech Republic)
Patrik Schick's performances for the Czech Republic at Euro 2020 were nothing short of sensational. The Bayer Leverkusen striker proved to be the talisman for his country this summer, scoring five goals in as many appearances to take his team to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, where they lost to Denmark.
Schick's strike from the half-line against Scotland in the Czech Republic's opening group game of Euro 2020 is widely considered to be one of the greatest goals in the history of the European Championships.
The striker was labelled one of the brightest young prospects in Europe during his time with AS Roma in Serie A. The steep decline in his career resulted in many pundits branding him 'overrated'. Schick has, however, proven his doubters wrong, and has now become one of the hottest properties in European football.
#2 Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
The Belgian superstar enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career with Inter Milan before arriving at Euro 2020. Romelu Lukaku scored 24 goals in 36 Serie A appearances, helping the Nerazzurri win their first Scudetto in more than a decade.
Belgium's all-time record goalscorer lived up to expectations at Euro 2020, scoring four goals in five games before the Red Devils were shown the door by eventual winners Italy in the last eight.
The former Manchester United striker was Belgium's talisman in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Despite scoring a penalty in the quarter-finals against Italy, Lukaku was unable to take Belgium past Roberto Mancini's side, though.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Many didn't expect Cristiano Ronaldo to make the kind of impact he did at Euro 2020, despite his team ending their title defence in the Round of 16.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was coming off a season, where he scored 36 goals in 44 appearances. But Ronaldo was criticised for his inability to help Juventus retain the Serie A title and reach the latter stages of the Champions League. Despite his club future being uncertain, Ronaldo showed his class and pedigree in Portugal colours at Euro 2020.
The 36-year-old scored five goals in just four appearances at the tournament, where he was his country's standout performer. Ronaldo, the only player to score in five different European Championships, is the competition's all-time top scorer with 14 goals.
However, despite Ronaldo's exploits, Portugal's other star players failed to come to the party at Euro 2020. After narrowly avoiding an embarrassing group-stage exit, Portugal lost to Belgium in the Round of 16.
