Euro 2021 key players Group E
By Nathan Holowaty @topworldfootball
Spain
FIFA World Ranking: 6
Key players for Spain:
Jordi Alba will captain the Spanish team from the left-back position. Barcelona’s star defender is the most capped player on the squad in the absence of Ramos and Busquets.
Thiago Alcantara plays as a central defensive midfielder for Liverpool in the Premier League. He’s a former Champions League winner with Bayern Munich and is experienced in winning at the highest level.
Alvaro Morato should start as a striker for Spain. He’s experienced playing for Real Madrid, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and now Juventus. His experience playing at the highest levels of club football is invaluable.
Rodri plays as a central midfielder for Spain and should start every match. He was a big part of Manchester City’s Premier League-winning campaign this past season.
Sweden
FIFA World Ranking: 18
Key players for Sweden:
Alexander Isak scored 17 goals in Spain’s La Liga this past season for Real Sociedad. This makes him Sweden’s best hope to score at the Euro’s.
Victor Nilsson Lindelof is the top centre-back for Sweden. He usually starts every game for Manchester United, making him a valuable asset for the Swedish national team.
Emil Forsberg is often found at left midfield for RB Leipzig. He scored seven goals for them this past season in the Bundesliga. Look for him to play as a left midfielder for Sweden.
Dejan Kulusevski might not start as he’s just turned 21, however, he’s too good not to see some action. He plays for Juventus mainly as a centre forward. Will provide some youthful energy for Sweden’s forwards.
Poland
FIFA World Ranking: 21
Key players for Poland:
Robert Lewandowski, perhaps the world’s best striker, was named FIFA’s best men’s player of 2020. With 41 goals in 29 Bundesliga matches for Bayern Munich, Poland’s captain hopes to score at a similar rate at the Euro’s.
Wojciech Szczesny has loads of experience playing at world football’s highest levels. He’s played in the Premier League with Arsenal and now at Juventus in Serie A. He’s one of the best keepers in Europe.
Piotr Zielinski is an attacking midfielder for Napoli in Italy where he scored eight goals this past season. Look for him to line up behind Lewandowski on the left side of the field.
Jan Bednarek currently plays centre back for Southampton in the English Premier League. Poland will need him to be solid at the back if they have any chance to progress at the Euro’s.
Slovakia
FIFA World Ranking: 36
Key players for Slovakia:
Marek Hamsik is the captain of Slovakia and will be relied upon heavily in a central attacking midfield role. He recently made the move from IFK Goteborg in Sweden to Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Milan Skriniar is Slovakia’s most valuable player and should play every minute of the tournament at centre back. He plays at the highest level of world football as a regular starter for Inter Milan in Serie A.
Juraj Kucka is an experienced central midfielder, playing his club football for Parma in Italy. He scored seven goals in Serie A this past season. Slovakia will play him in the central midfield at the Euro’s.
Martin Dubravka has played regularly for Newcastle United in the English Premier League since 2018. Slovakia will be happy to have a keeper of that calibre playing for them at the Euro’s.
