EPL Players at EURO 2024 – Day 6
Matchday 2 of the group stage started yesterday, with the three games taking place involving some prominent EPL players. As part of our EPLNews EURO 2024 report, here is how Premier League players performed in these games.
Croatia 2-2 Albania
In a game full of drama, Albania snatched a historic draw against Croatia. After leading for a long portion of the match and then conceding two goals in three minutes, Klaus Gjasula found the equaliser in injury time to seal the first point for both nations.
Croatia had Manchester City duo Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić on from the start. While the latter performed well during the game and was full of intent and running, Gvardiol was found somewhat wanting, with a fairly shaky display in a defence which conceded two goals and numerous chances to a much less fancied Albania side.
Speaking of Albania, they only had one Premier League player in their side: Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. He performed decently despite conceding two goals, by making three saves.
Ratings
Croatia: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City) – 6; Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City) – 8
Albania: Thomas Strakosha (Brentford) – 7
For highlights and reactions, click here.
Germany 2-0 Hungary
The Euro 2024 hosts have qualified for the round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Hungary, with a goal in each half from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gündoğan. The result also means that Hungary have virtually no chance of advancing from the group.
There were three Premier League players in the thick of the action in Stuttgart, with Germany fielding Arsenal striker Kai Havertz from the start, while Hungary called upon Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai to be in the starting XI.
The best performer among them was arguably Kerkez, who was one of the few players in the Hungary team who at least attempted to rise to the occasion. He came off the pitch in the 75th minute, as Hungary coach Marco Rossi made some attacking tweaks.
Szoboszlai was quite far from his usual best, struggling to influence proceedings in a do-or-die game for his team. He was also booked in injury time.
For the Germans, Havertz was subbed off after just under an hour of semi-anonymity.
Ratings
Germany: Kai Havertz (Arsenal) – 6.5
Hungary: Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth) – 7; Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) – 5
Click here for more highlights and reactions.
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
In the final game of the day, Scotland earned a draw against a Swiss side that could have secured qualification with a win. This means that the Tartan Army still have a chance to reach the round of 16 despite the heavy defeat in their first game, while Switzerland are almost certain of second place.
It was a game that saw eight EPL players take to the field. Scotland had Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, Manchester United’s Scott McTominay (who scored his team’s goal), Billy Gilmour from Brighton, John McGinn from Aston Villa and Southampton’s Che Adams in the starting XI, while Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie was introduced in the closing stages.
Switzerland had only two Premier League players, but both started the game: Newcastle’s Fabian Schär and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji. Their team’s goal was scored by a former Prem player, with former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri getting on the scoresheet with what was probably the goal of the tournament so far, a powerful and curling shot from distance after an error in the Scottish defence.
Ratings
Scotland: Andy Robertson (Liverpool) – 6.5; Scott McTominay (Manchester United) – 8; Billy Gilmour (Brighton) – 6.5; John McGinn (Aston Villa) – 5.5; Che Adams (Southampton) – 6; Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) – N/A
Switzerland: Fabian Schär (Newcastle) – 6.5; Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) – 6.5
For highlights and reactions, click here.