4. Antoine Griezmann
While Leicester City as English champions arguably got luck on their side at crucial junctures during the season, Atletico Madrid is the unluckiest team in club football. Despite showing the highest quality of defensive football throughout the league season, they went out of contention with a whimper on the penultimate La Liga weekend and then lost in the Champions League final to arch-rivals Real Madrid on penalties.
Antoine Griezmann served as the fulcrum of this amazing team’s attack all season long, and one gets the impression that barring a few botched penalties, his performances for the Rojiblancos deserve to be placed right up there with those of the more glamorous Barca, Bayern and Real players.
In the Euros, however, Griezmann has proved his mettle as probably the continent’s most effective free-roaming forward alongside Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Adding to his impressive haul of 32 goals during the season for Atleti, Griezmann was instrumental in France’s win over Ireland in the knockouts and was also their best player other than Payet in game against Switzerland.
As a complete package, his comprehensively complete skillset could help France past any team currently in the competition. As he’s run into top form at the right moment in the knockouts, one can expect more fireworks from the diminutive speedster.
Best-case scenario:
France win the Euros, defeating Germany/Italy on the way, while Griezmann goes ballistic at club level next season.
Worst-case scenario:
France lose to Iceland in the quarterfinals.
