EPL Players at EURO 2024 – Day 3
We are really in the thick of it now, with 3 games every day, so as part of our EPLNews EURO 2024 report, here is how Premier League players performed in yesterday’s games.
Poland 1-2 Netherlands
No fewer than 8 players from EPL teams took part in this game that saw the Dutch team dominate and find a late winner through Wout Weghorst’s first touch of the ball.
Poland coach Michal Probierz put Southampton’s Jan Bednarek and Arsenal’s Jaku Kiwior in the starting XI, and both had trouble containing the relentless Dutch attacks throughout. Kiwior also had a decent chance going forward in the second half, but was unable to beat Verbruggen. Brighton’s Jakub Moder was subbed on at half-time, but despite an energetic display, he did not have much of an impact on proceedings.
The Netherlands had Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo on from the start, while Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven came on in the closing stages of the match. They all performed quite well, especially Ake and Gakpo, who combined for the equalising goal in the first half. Gakpo’s goal and overall contribution also earned him the Man of the Match award.
Ratings
Poland: Jan Bednarek (Southampton) – 5.5; Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal) – 6; Jakub Moder (Brighton) – 6
Netherlands: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) – 7.5; Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – 7.5; Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) – 9; Micky van de Ven (Tottenham) – N/A
For highlights and reactions, click here.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
The first draw at EURO 2024 was reserved for this group C game between the Danes and Slovenia. Premier League representation was all left to Denmark, as they had 5 EPL players in the starting XI, with one more coming off the bench.
Joachim Andersen represented Crystal Palace well at the heart of defence along with Leicester City’s Jannik Vestergaard. Tottenham had Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in midfield, who was replaced in the 83rd minute by Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard, while Manchester United supplied Rasmus Højlund – one of the game’s poorest performers – and Christian Eriksen, who scored the opener and took home the Man of the Match award.
The strike also marked 1,100 days since his cardiac arrest on the pitch at EURO 2020.
Ratings
Slovenia: N/A
Denmark: Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) – 6.5; Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) – 7; Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham) – 7; Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) – 8; Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United) – 6; Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) – N/A
For highlights and reactions, click here.
Serbia 0-1 England
As expected, this game had the biggest Premier League contingent and saw England hold on to an early slender lead until the end to grab the 3 points.
Serbia’s sole EPL player involved in this game was Fulham’s Saša Lukić, who played from the start and was perhaps his team’s best performer.
England had no less than 9 footballers from the Prem in the starting XI, with 3 more coming off the bench. The game’s only goal was scored by one of only 2 England players in the squad who are not playing in the EPL: Jude Bellingham.
Overall, despite the slim margin of the win, Premier League players performed well, with Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice standing out.
Ratings
Serbia: Saša Lukić (Fulham) – 7
England: Jordan Pickford (Everton) – 7; Kyle Walker (Manchester City) – 7.5; John Stones (Manchester City) – 7.5; Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) – 7.5; Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) – 7; Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 7.5; Declan Rice (Arsenal) – 8; Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 8; Phil Foden (Manchester City) – 7; Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) – 7; Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) – 6.5; Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) – N/A
For highlights and reactions, click here.