Following a gruelling UEFA Euro 2016 campaign where Portugal defeated France in the final, all the big clubs from the major European leagues have commenced with their pre-season friendlies, players are looking for the best possible preparation ahead of their league football campaigns.
While a few players like Ashley Williams, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Eric Dier performed beyond expectations, there were top players who didn’t hit top form with their below par performances at the major tournament. The clubs of these players will hope that they return to the best of their form before the start of the season.
Also Read: Euro 2016: Flop XI of the tournament
Let us take a look at top impact players league-wise, who need to improve their form which in turn will reflect in the performances of the clubs.
Bundesliga
David Alaba, around whom Austria was expected to function, failed to stamp his authority at the international level. He failed to offer anything substantial from the heart of Austria’s midfield as they were eliminated in the group stages. It will be interesting to see how the new manager Carlos Ancelotti uses the services of the versatile player.
Mario Gotze was his given his fair share of chances from the start of the tournament but however failed to cause any trouble to the opposition failing to score in his four appearances. Gotze will now be hoping to get first team football and prove his mettle following his move back to Borussia Dortmund from Bayern.
Thomas Muller is known for his exceptional performances at World Cups but is yet to score a goal at any Euro tournament in his career. He entered the competition with a season tally of 20 goals and 5 assists, but however managed just one assist in Germany’s run to the semi-finals where they were eliminated by France. Bayern will want their star striker to regain his scoring touch sooner rather than later.
EPL
Joe Hart had a nightmare of a tournament at Euro 2016. His mediocre performances raised questions about his position as the first goalkeeper of Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola not keen on signing any other goalkeeper to replace him, Hart’s performance between the sticks will be key to Manchester City’s success this season.
Another Manchester City player, Raheem Sterling was criticized throughout the tournament for not utilising the width of the pitch. However, his below-average performances were shadowed by a few moments of individual brilliance. With the arrival of Nolito at City, Sterling has to fight for his spot in Guardiola’s side.
Harry Kane, the 22-year-old forward was repeatedly handed the responsibility of leading the attack ahead of the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy. However, he failed to repay the trust kept in him by Roy Hodgson, as he didn’t score a single goal throughout the tournament. Tottenham fans will hope that he puts his Euro 2016 performances behind him and gets back to his scoring best early into the season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic entered the tournament after a dream season with PSG having scored 50 goals in just 51 appearances. However, the new Manchester United signing came up with dismal performances in the tournament, failing to record a shot on target after the first two fixtures of the group stages.
Post Euro 2016, Zlatan decided to join Manchester United. Having already played in Spain, Italy, and France, it will be interesting to see how the forward fares in England. On the other hand, United fans will be hoping that Zlatan brings the glory days back to the club.
Also Read: Mourinho dismisses concerns over Zlatan’s age
La Liga
After leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory, the Spain captain Sergio Ramos failed to reproduce his heroics at Euro 2016. After an unimpressive outing against Croatia that included a missed penalty, his performance did not get any better against rivals Italy. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will want the defender to revive his best form and lead from the front for the upcoming season.
Another Spanish footballer who had a quiet tournament was Sergio Busquets. It was an uncharacteristic display from the Barcelona star, as he struggled to win duels and hold on to possession. Having been the unsung hero in Barcelona’s successes over the past, any dip in his form can prove costly for Barcelona.
Arda Turan failed to make the most of the opportunities offered to him in the last season and hence his position in the team is now in jeopardy. His poor form continued at Euro 2016 failing to score or provide an assist. It is highly due for him to discover his lost form to find himself a spot in the playing XI
Other leagues
Stephan Lichtsteiner had a splendid season with Juventus but however, failed to replicate his form at Euro 2016. The Swiss captain will now compete with Dani Alves for the right-back spot and hence has to step up his game to earn his spot in the playing XI.
Aleksandar Dragovic, the Dynamo Kyiv defender will return to the Ukrainian giant club after a poor stint at Euro 2016. He was sent-off in the opening fixture against Hungary and ended up missing a penalty in the decisive match against Iceland.
