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Euro 2020 was as exciting an international tournament as any we have seen in recent times. Amid all the gloom that the world had become accustomed to in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Euro 2020 was nothing short of a blessing.
Italy have been crowned champions of Europe after defeating a resolute English side at Wembley this past Sunday. The Three Lions weren't touted as tournament favourites but they produced several top-drawer performances on their way to the final.
Premier League players showed their class at Euro 2020
Most English players ply their trade in the English top-flight. There were also several other high-profile Premier League players who were representing their nations at Euro 2020.
The tournament was a great stage for players to prove their mettle ahead of the 2022 World Cup and it's safe to say that many individuals have done exactly that.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best Premier League players at Euro 2020.
#5 Paul Pogba - France/Manchester United
It's difficult to find a midfielder with as much flair as Paul Pogba. The Manchester United man can do things on a football pitch that are inconceivable to many. With N'Golo Kante sweeping up beside him, Pogba put his wide array of skills and passing range on display and they were an absolute treat.
Pogba was arguably France's best player at Euro 2020. He scored an absolute peach of a goal from range in the Round of 16 game against Switzerland. La Pioche played five accurate throughballs for France in the continental competition and it's a pity that the French forwards couldn't make the most of them.
He won the man-of-the-match award twice in four games. Pogba could have gone on to become a contender for the player of the tournament award but for France's early exit.
#4 Harry Kane - England/Tottenham Hotspur
England endured a slow start to Euro 2020. They won 1-0 against Croatia before settling for a goalless draw with Scotland. The Three Lions then beat the Czech Republic 1-0 but manager Southgate was given some stick for his overtly cautious approach.
Harry Kane failed to score in any of England's first three games and looked off colour. But he stepped up when it mattered and was arguably England's most influential player in the knockout stages. He scored four goals in three knockout stage matches in the lead up to the final.
That included a goal apiece against Germany and Denmark and a brace against Ukraine. Kane was also instrumental in setting up England's only goal of the final but was starved of service later on in the game.
But all in all, it was a great tournament for England's captain who is one of the best strikers on the planet right now.
#3 Raheem Sterling - England/Manchester City
Raheem Sterling did not have a great 2020-21 season at an individual level. But he was a guaranteed starter for England. He delivered right from the get-go, scoring the all-important winner in the Three Lions' Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
Sterling was an enterprising presence down the left side and was constantly looking to create. His directness and ability to take defenders on and beat them was adequately rewarded. Sterling was perhaps England's most consistent attacker over the course of the tournament.
The Manchester City attacker has been named in the Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament. He scored three goals and provided one assist at the continental competition. Sterling also completed 34 dribbles, the most for any player at the tournament.
#2 Luke Shaw - England/Manchester United
Luke Shaw has blossomed into one of the best left-backs in the world over the past couple of seasons. His contributions to Manchester United in the 2020-21 season have been immense. However, there were apprehensions regarding what his role will be for England at Euro 2020.
After being left on the bench for the Three Lions' tournament opener against Croatia, Shaw was promoted to the first team for the game against Scotland. Since then, Shaw has simply been a creative force for England down the left flank.
He turned in an impressive performance in the game against the Czech Republic and was picked as the man-of-the-match. The 26-year-old then provided an assist in England's 2-0 win over Germany. He took it a step further and created two goals in the quarterfinal against Ukraine.
To top it off, Shaw also scored England's only goal in the final, which was a peach of a volley that made Gianluigi Donnarumma stand rooted to his spot. In total, Shaw scored a goal and provided three assists in six appearances and was one of the best players in the tournament.
#1 Jorginho - Italy/Chelsea
Jorginho is having the summer of his life. He won the Champions League title with Chelsea in May and has now won the Euros with Italy. The midfield maestro has played an important role in both historic triumphs.
The best thing about Jorginho is that all aspects of his game are so well polished that he has a response to every kind of situation. The Chelsea midfielder, who is known as a master passer and orchestrator, was great at dispensing his defensive duties as well at Euro 2020.
Even when Italy have had to chase their opponents like in games against Spain and England, they haven't suffered because Jorginho was excellent in midfield. A tireless worker, Jorginho covered 86.6 km, which is the most for any player at Euro 2020.
He also completed 497 passes, the second-most at the tournament, with a pass success rate of 93%. Jorginho has also become the player with the most number of interceptions made at a European Championship since 1980, with 25.
The Italian midfielder has shown the world just how good a player he is and how proficient he is in every aspect of the game.
Honourable mentions: Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool) and Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)
