UEFA Euro 2016 has been an exciting contest so far with teams like Spain and Italy cruising to next rounds of the tournament and stars like Dimitri Payet and Andres Iniesta shining. However some stars which were expected to be carrying their team on their back, have been found not performing up to the mark and are considered as a total flop in the tournament. The players who couldn’t perform are creating trouble for their teams. On the other hand, some players are shining very bright and winning games for their team. Let us take a look at who has been a flop and who has been a star.
Top Flop at Euro 2016:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo:
Cristiano is considered the biggest flop of the tournament. His fans claim that he has been a one-man army for his national side Portugal but hasn’t been able to do anything for his team yet in the tournament. He couldn’t show up in the 2 games of the tournament and missed a penalty and both the games ended up in a draw. The Portugal forward has been extremely trolled as he claimed himself as the best player in last 20 years and now couldn’t do anything for the country.
2. Harry Kane:
The Premier League Golden boot winner and Tottenham’s striker Harry Kane has risen to fame in the following season. And due to his performances, he has been called up for England National Team and has been named in Euro 2016 squad. But Kane hasn’t been able to perform how he was expected to be and has been a complete flop for his side.
3. Robert Lewandoski:
The Polish hitman has been a goal machine since he joined Bayern Munich and has an extraordinary season for the Bavarians 42 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions and has created a record by scoring 5 goals in 9 minutes after coming off the bench. But he could not retain his form in the Euro 2016 and haven’t scored a single goal in the whole competition.
4. Paul Pogba:
Paul Pogba was supposed to be the man of the tournament and a player to watch. He has created a great reputation with Italian champions Juventus and has got extremely successful last 2 seasons. But Pogba has been an absolute flop and was subbed off during France’s second game against Albania. Moreover, he has improved during the game against Switzerland but it was still much below from what is expected from the French.
5. David Alaba
The Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba plays for Austrian national team and is the best player in the camp. But he hasn’t been able to provide any quality performance for the team and wasn’t given any more playing time.
Top Shining Stars at Euro 2016:
1. Dimitri Payet:
The player that has surprised the most is the Frace’s midfielder Dimitri Payet. Payet plays for West Ham United and had a season to remember
But during the Euro 2016, Payet has been spectacular and possibly the “Best player of the tournament”. He has created 14 chances up till now in two games and is about to break Zinedine Zidan’s record of 15 chances in the whole of the competition which he created back in 2004.
2. Andres Iniesta:
Andres Iniesta is proving that age is just a number and has been giving outstanding performances in the tournament. He claims that the reason for its success is his fast thinking.
Iniesta has dropped down from attacking role to deep into the midfield and has been a key player in Spain’s victories against Turkey and Czech Republic.
Iniesta said in an interview to Mundo Deportivo: ‘For a midfielder like me, the most important thing has been, is and will be to think fast, certain things occur automatically, but to think fast is the only secret.’
3. Gareth Bale:
The Welsh Wizard has been sensational for his country in the tournament and has scored 2 stunning free kicks. Bale is currently the top scorer of the tournament shared with some others. He has a total of 3 goals and has carried his team to the next stages of the competition.
4. Toni Kroos:
The German is acting as a backbone for his national team. He has a passing accuracy of 90% in whole Euro 2016. He has come out on top for his team and has taken the responsibility to lead the midfield.
5. Alvaro Morata:
Alvaro Morata seemed a flop after Spain’s first game, but he proved this wrong with mesmerizing performances in the next 2 game. He is currently the top scorer of the competition.
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