The all-important Matchday 2 of the 2024 European Championship (EURO 2024) delivered nail-biting drama from begin to end. Heavyweights England and France had been held to stalemates by Denmark and the Netherlands, respectively. Luka Modric’s Croatia, additionally suffered a heartbreak, drawing 2-2 with Albania.
After struggling a shock 1-0 defeat to Slovakia on Matchday 1, Belgium bounced again with aplomb on Matchday 2, claiming a 2-0 victory over Romania. Lastly, it was enterprise as typical for Germany, Portugal, and Spain, who secured development to the Spherical of 16 with their second consecutive victory within the competitors.
Earlier than we flip all our consideration to Matchday 3, let’s take a fast have a look at the gamers who shone on Matchday 2. Listed here are the 5 standout performers of EURO 2024 Gameweek 2:
#5 Bernardo Silva (Portugal)
Portugal claimed a commanding 3-0 victory over an in-form Turkiye on Group F Matchday 2, and their midfield maestro Bernardo Silva was on the coronary heart of all of it. He handed the ball round superbly, created openings for his teammates, and scored a advantageous purpose with an impeccable first-time end within the twenty first minute.
Towards Turkiye, Silva created a game-high 4 possibilities for his teammates. He additionally accomplished 48 of his 52 passes, attaining 92% accuracy; performed three passes into the ultimate third, made two recoveries, and gained three duels. All in all a advantageous efficiency from the Manchester Metropolis man.
#4 Marc Cucurella (Spain)
Earlier than the match started, many noticed Marc Cucurella as Spain’s weakest hyperlink. Nonetheless, by stepping as much as the plate within the final two matches, Cucurella has proven why Luis de la Fuente has a lot religion in him.
The Chelsea man was at his sensible finest as Spain beat Italy on Matchday 2. He was an environment friendly passer, made marauding runs all through the match to lend assist to Nico Williams, performed key passes, and stood his floor towards the in-form Federico Chiesa.
Cucurella created three possibilities and two large possibilities towards Italy. He additionally gained 4 of his 5 tackles, accomplished 52 of 53 passes, made three interceptions, gained 10 duels, and carried out seven recoveries.
#3 Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
Kevin de Bruyne had an off day on Matchday 1, and Belgium felt it. With out the Manchester Metropolis maestro operating the present, they did not create possibilities and in the end fell to a 1-0 defeat. On Matchday 2, De Bruyne was again to his finest, and so had been Belgium. De Bruyne not solely ran the present in the midst of the park, however he additionally exhibited nice energy and positional consciousness to attain Belgium’s second purpose towards Romania within the eightieth minute.
De Bruyne latched on to goalkeeper Koen Casteels’ lengthy ball from deep, fended off Radu Dragusin, and utilized a deft contact to beat the onrushing goalkeeper. The insurance coverage purpose apart, De Bruyne created three possibilities, accomplished three dribbles, and gained 11 duels within the 2-0 win.
#2 Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Germany teen Jamal Musiala grew to become the primary participant in EURO 2024 to attain two targets, as his staff claimed a 2-0 victory over Hungary on Wednesday (June 19). Musiala confirmed nice initiative to assault the world within the twenty second minute earlier than making use of a cool end to make it 1-0 for Die Mannschaft. He additionally tormented Hungary along with his mazey runs all evening lengthy and didn’t hesitate to take a stab at purpose.
On Matchday 2, Musiala accomplished 39 passes with 87% accuracy, had three pictures, tried a few dribbles, gained all three tackles, and got here out on prime in seven of 10 floor duels.
#1 Ilkay Gundogan (Germany)
Jamal Musiala was wonderful in Germany’s victory over Hungary, however he was not the Man of the Match. That honor deservedly went to Ilkay Gundogan, who not solely scored but additionally arrange Musiala’s purpose. The Barcelona man used his cool head to benefit from the chaos contained in the Hungarian field earlier than laying the ball off to Musiala, permitting him to faucet it residence.
Gundogan added a advantageous purpose to his earlier help within the 67th minute, making use of a luxurious first-time end to ship Maximilian Mittelstaed’s low cutback into the again of the Hungarian web. Objective and help apart, the Germany skipper additionally created two possibilities, gained two duels, and delivered an correct lengthy ball.
