The third and closing group stage Matchday of the 2024 European Championship (EURO 2024) delivered continuous, breakneck motion and a bucketload of drama.
Italy scored proper on the dying towards Group B rivals Croatia, drawing 1-1 and knocking Luka Modric and Co. out of the competitors. Austria stunningly topped Group D forward of France after beating the Netherlands 3-2 of their closing match. Slovakia, Romania, Belgium, and Ukraine all completed with 4 factors in Group E. However Ukraine, attributable to their inferior objective distinction to Slovakia (third), Belgium (2nd), and Romania (1st), crashed out of the event.
Lastly, there have been Georgia, who picked up a surprising 2-0 victory over Portugal on Matchday 3 to complete third in Group F (4 factors) and progress because the second-best-ranked third-placed crew.
As we await Spherical of 16 motion to start on Saturday (June 29), allow us to take a fast take a look at the standout performers from the final spherical. Listed here are the highest 5 gamers who impressed on Matchday 3.
#5 Toni Kroos – Germany
Toni Kroos got here out of worldwide retirement for one final dance at EURO 2024. And thus far, the gamble is paying off spectacularly. The Actual Madrid icon delivered top-drawer performances on the primary two Matchdays as properly, however his finest got here within the 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Matchday 3.
The 34-year-old dictated the tempo of the sport from the center of the pitch, passing the ball round with grace and effortlessly switching play to the least-guarded areas. Over the 90 minutes, Kroos accomplished a whopping 99 passes, attaining 93% passing accuracy. He additionally created 4 probabilities, performed 14 passes into the ultimate third, delivered 4 correct lengthy balls, and received 5 of six floor duels.
#4 Kylian Mbappe – France
After lacking France’s goalless draw with the Netherlands on Matchday 2 attributable to his damaged nostril, Kylian Mbappe returned to motion for the ultimate Group F outing towards Poland. The Actual Madrid attacker appeared in high quality form, taking defenders on, monitoring again, linking up flawlessly with teammates, and protecting the goalkeeper on his toes. Mbappe additionally scored France’s solely objective of the sport within the 1-1 draw with Poland, dispatching a assured penalty within the 56th minute to search out the bottom-right nook.
The France skipper accomplished 43 passes towards Poland with 91% accuracy, had 5 pictures on course, accomplished a match-high six dribbles, delivered three correct crosses, and received seven floor duels. His ending wanted extra work, however Didier Deschamps would have undoubtedly been joyful to see his talisman hearth on all cylinders.
#3 Marcel Sabitzer
Austria produced a masterful efficiency towards the mighty Netherlands on Matchday 3, claiming a 3-2 victory. Each Austrian participant performed their half to perfection to push their crew to the highest of the group, however Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer deserves a particular shoutout.
The attacking midfielder saved the sport ticking together with his crisp passes, created two probabilities, and had two makes an attempt on course, together with the objective. The 30-year-old scored the winner within the eightieth minute, latching on to Christoph Baumgartner’s inch-perfect supply, Sabitzer dragged the ball to the left of the field earlier than firing past Bart Verbruggen and into the again of the online. The ex-Manchester United man additionally made six recoveries and received a few duels towards the Dutch.
#2 Georges Mikautadze – Georgia
Underdogs Georgia bagged a outstanding 2-0 victory over heavyweights Portugal on Matchday 3, reserving their place within the Spherical of 16 of EURO 2024. Striker Georges Mikautadze had a job to play in each of Georgia’s targets, with him helping the primary one to striker accomplice Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and scoring the second himself.
Mikautadze demonstrated his lightning-fast reflexes to latch on to Antonio Silva’s disastrous again cross within the second minute earlier than calmly organising Kvaratskhelia. Then within the second half, he fired dwelling from the penalty spot after Silva fouled Luka Lochoshvili contained in the Portugal field. Underneath unimaginable stress, Mikautadze rolled the ball into the bottom-right nook to double Georgia’s benefit.
He additionally created a few probabilities, accomplished three dribbles, made 4 recoveries, and received 5 floor duels towards Os Navegadores.
#1 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia
Capping off the record is Georgia’s talisman and most recognizable participant, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Napoli winger arguably performed the most effective worldwide match of his profession towards Portugal, scoring a high quality objective within the second minute. Receiving the ball from Georges Mikautadze down the left-hand channel, Kvaratskhelia burst into the field and located the bottom-right nook with a thumping left-footed strike. He additionally used his dribbling means to perfection to maintain the defenders on their toes all evening lengthy.
Earlier than coming off within the 81st minute, Kvaratskhelia accomplished three dribbles, made 5 recoveries, received 9 floor duels, and drew 4 fouls. Georgia may have an important alternative to increase their dream EURO run if their No. 7 can produce one other masterclass towards Spain within the Spherical of 16.
