Costa ahead of Oblak for goalkeeper
For a 0-0, you need a lack of efficiency from both teams but also two great goalkeepers. During Portugal-Slovenia (0-0, 3-0 on penalties), Jan Oblak and Diogo Costa were immense. The first saved his team six times and stopped a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in extra time. But the second, less used for 120 minutes, repelled the first three Slovenian attempts during the penalty shootout. And sent his team to the quarter-finals, against France.
A first for a defender since Thuram
Often criticized for his performances in a position that is not his, Jules Koundé was impeccable against the Belgians (1-0). The right-back answered legitimate questions about his qualities on the right by perfectly containing the tightrope walker Jérémy Doku. He also impressed offensively, placing himself very high up with a great quality of crosses (3 successful out of 5) and an unimaginable projection ability until now.
Merih Demiral was uncompromising in the middle to beat Austria (2-1). The central defender became Turkey’s hero above all for his double, a first for a defender in a major tournament since Lilian Thuram in 1998. A striker’s goal, opportunistic from the first minute and another with a header from a corner on the hour mark. Enough to enshrine his performance in Turkish legend, although it was tarnished by a celebration with ultra-nationalist overtones.
Not set to be a starter before this Euro, William Saliba continues to impress. The Gunner subdued the Belgian Romelu Lukaku, who was not a poor customer. Always just with the ball at his feet, he was also the first blue relauncher, despite his position in the left axis. A real boss’s match, which places him as the boss of the blue defense.
Against Romania (3-0), Nathan Aké saved the Dutch start of the match thanks to his multiple interventions. Refocused with the ball, his long game was invaluable in destabilizing a very compact opposing block. He also knew how to contain the rare Romanian incursions into his camp, with the serenity that we know him for at Manchester City. And he covered several times the positioning errors of his hinge.
Rodri still reigns in the middle
After his XXL season with Bayer Leverkusen, Granit Xhaka continues his regulatory activities. The Swiss midfielder ruled the roost in midfield against Italy (2-0), combining technical accuracy, physical impact and a hint of vice. A pivotal player for the Swiss, he touched the ball 101 times and was at the origin of three big situations. Huge, once again.
Rodri once again delivered a no-nonsense performance to defeat Georgia (4-1). Always as accurate with the ball, the Spaniard exudes a sense of unfailing serenity. He also sprang forward several times to intercept Georgian passes. His match took on another dimension when he revived his team with a nice sequence of right-foot control and left-foot strike. The essential player par excellence.
Positioned in the left half-space, Jamal Musiala was unstoppable against Denmark (2-0). The German national diamond unsettled the opposing defenders with his positioning and his ability to create gaps. He was involved in the action of the first goal and was responsible for making the break a quarter of an hour later. The best German player since the start of the competition deserved his standing ovation for his exit at the end of the match.
Supersonic wingmen behind Gakpo
Nico Williams must have seemed unstoppable to the poor Georgian defenders. They had to work in pairs or threes to slow down the supersonic winger. Which didn’t stop him from shifting Rodri well for the equaliser before sealing the victory with a lightning counter-attack that he executed perfectly. The German full-backs, not the fastest, can already be worried.
Some players perform better in the national team than at club level. Dutchman Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) is certainly one of them. His powerful strike at the near post shook Romania. He then broke it by gifting Donyell Malen the goal that made it two. He thought he had scored a few minutes earlier, when VAR caught him out. No matter, with three goals already, the striker is at the top of the competition’s top scorers’ charts.
His superb curling shot into the far corner will remain one of the goals of the tournament. He didn’t know it yet, but Ruben Vargas had just sealed the Swiss feat against Italy, a logical reward for a full performance. The winger had already been involved in the first goal and almost all of Switzerland’s chances. He shook the Italian defense with his acceleration without forgetting to defend, which forced him to give up his place after 70 minutes.
