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Euro 2020 has drawn to a close and Italy have been crowned champions of Europe. The Azzurri's triumph was well deserved as they were the most consistent team in the tournament. They won every single one of their seven Euro 2020 matches and stretched their unbeaten run to 34 games.
Italy put England's champagne back on ice after beating them on penalties in the final that was played at Wembley. Roberto Mancini owes it to a set of individuals who stepped up to the plate when their nation needed them most and delivered emphatically.
Euro 2020 had its share of players who impressed us with their athleticism
Euro 2020 was one of the most exciting international tournaments in recent times. The knockout stages lived up to their billing and fans were blessed with some exhilarating contests that went right down to the wire.
At Euro 2020, we also saw the emergence of plenty of young stars. With most teams fielding relatively young sides, there was no shortage of players who mesmerized us with their athleticism.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the six players who clocked the highest speeds at Euro 2020.
(All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.com)
#6 Marcus Rashford (England) - 33.5 km/hr
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is one of the fastest players on the planet. There have been reports that Rashford has been playing through injuries and if that's the case, then it makes this feat even more impressive. The 23-year-old clocked a top speed of 33.5 km/hr at Euro 2020.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rashford has truly blossomed into one of the best forwards in the Premier League. His speed, coupled with his dribbling ability, makes him a nightmare for defenders.
#5 Daniel James (Wales) - 33.5 km/hr
Daniel James was an important member of the Welsh squad that made it to the Round of 16 at Euro 2020. James' pace and relentlessness helped make him a great attacking outlet for the Welshmen.
The Manchester United winger hit 33.5 km/hr at Euro 2020 in the game against Turkey. It comes as no surprise as James is known for his pace and acceleration. He is still a little rough around the edges with regard to his overall game but the 23-year-old has plenty of time to grow and improve.
#4 Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) - 33.6 km/hr
Netherlands winger Cody Gakpo made just one appearance for the Dutch side at Euro 2020. He came off the bench in the game against North Macedonia and played just 11 minutes.
But that was enough for him to register his name among the fastest players at the tournament. Gakpo accelerated to 33.6 km/hr in that game and became the fourth fastest player at Euro 2020.
Gakpo plays as a left-winger for PSV Eindhoven. He made 29 appearances for his club across all competitions in the 2020-21 season, scoring 11 goals and providing three ass
#3 Kingsley Coman (France) - 33.7 km/hr
France were heralded as one of the favourites heading into Euro 2020. They turned in a few world-class performances at the tournament but were beaten by Switzerland on penalties in the Round of 16.
France have no shortage of attacking talent. With Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema leading the charge, it was going to be difficult for anyone else to even get a look in.
Kingsley Coman, one of their backup options, had to leave the squad to attend the birth of his child and missed the first two group stage games.
Coman's involvement at Euro 2020 was limited to just two substitute appearances. But he showcased immense pace in both those outings and clocked a top speed of 33.7 km/hr at the continental competition
#2 Loic Nego (Hungary) - 33.8 km/hr
Hungary were drawn to the group of death alongside France, Portugal and Germany. They weren't given much of a chance but the Hungarians produced some valiant performances against the European giants.
Hungary's right-back Loic Nego is a surprising entrant to the list of the fastest players at the tournament. The 30-year-old hit a top speed of 33.8 km/hr at Euro 2020. Hungary crashed out in the group stage but they received a lot of praise for their intent and attitude.
#1 Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy) - 33.8 km/hr
Leonardo Spinazzola was one of Italy's standout performers in the early stages for Italy at Euro 2020. He was unfortunate to have been sidelined with an Achilles injury he picked up in the quarter-final game against Belgium.
Spinazzola got a lot of attention in the group stages thanks to his blistering pace and ability to combine well with Lorenzo Insigne down the left flank. His burst of pace has surprised many and despite not being the fastest player at the tournament, nobody matched his top speed of 33.8 km/hr.
Spinazzola's pace and tenacity down the left wing enabled Italy to be flexible with their tactics. Though they start out in a 4-3-3 formation, they switch to a 3-3-4 in possession with Spinazzola joining the frontline. So essentially when Spinazzola is playing, Italy can play with four forwards.
Speaking of his left-back, Mancini said:
“He’s so strong and explosive that he can play [as a wing-back] in a back five or [as a full-back] in a four”.
The Roma left-back's stock has risen over the past month and the Serie A outfit will do well to fend off interest from other clubs this summer.
