Euro 2021 key players Group C
By Nathan Holowaty @topworldfootball
Netherlands
FIFA World Ranking: 16
Key players for the Netherlands:
Frenkie de Jong is the most valuable player on the team. The Barcelona central defending midfielder ensures that the Netherlands has one of the strongest squad’s in the central midfield.
Georginio Wijnaldum is Netherlands captain and plays as a central holding midfielder. He’s recently left Liverpool where he’s played since 2016 for Paris Saint-Germain.
Matthijs de Ligt is one of the greatest young centre-backs in world football. Only 21 years old, de Ligt hopes to return from a groin injury in time to play in the latter half of the group stage games.
Stefan de Vrij helped Inter Milan win the Italian Serie A this season with his solid defensive play. The centre-back will play a huge role for the Netherlands if they are to be successful at the Euro’s.
Austria
FIFA World Ranking: 23
Key players for Austria:
David Alaba is Austria’s best player and will captain the team. He’s recently signed for Real Madrid but spent most of his career at Bayern Munich. He’s normally utilized as a defender but might be needed more at midfield for Austria.
Marcel Sabitzer will play in an attacking midfield role for Austria. He’s been plying his trade at RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga where he scored eight goals last season.
Florian Grillitsh will play a key role in the midfield for Austria, likely more in a holding role. He’s currently at TSG Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga
Sasa Kalajdzic is the best striking option for Austria, he will need to produce some offence if Austria hopes to advance. Kalajdzic currently plays for VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga, where he led the team with16 goals last season.
Ukraine
FIFA World Ranking: 24
Oleksandr Zinchenko is the captain and star of the team. He’s recently started in the Champions League final and won the English Premier League with Manchester City. Normally playing as a left-back for Manchester City, Zinchenko plays in the midfield for Ukraine.
Ruslan Malinovskyi played a huge role in keeping Italian club Atalanta in the Champions League this year. The attacking midfielder is a set-piece specialist and will need to provide offensive support for Ukraine.
Andriy Yarmolenko has been playing for West Ham United in the English Premier League since 2018. He plays on the right-wing, where he hopes to provide firepower for the Ukraine attack.
Roman Yaremchuk will likely fill the central striker role for Ukraine. He’s been playing at Gent in Belgium’s top league where he’s scored 61 goals in 152 matches since 2017.
North Macedonia
FIFA World Ranking: 62
Goran Pandev is North Macedonia’s greatest player of all time and captain. He’s spent most of his career in Italy’s top-flight where he’s scored over 100 goals. He’s currently playing for Genoa in the Italian Serie A.
Ezgjan Alioski plays left-back for Leeds in the English Premier League. North Macedonia may move him into the midfield as he’s one of the team’s best players.
Stefan Ristovski currently plays right-back for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. He may be needed more in the midfield at the Euro’s. His younger brother Milan has recently joined him on the North Macedonia national team.
Arjan Ademi currently plays central midfield for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. He’s 30 years old and played for the Croatian national team before joining North Macedonia in 2014
