By Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos on June 24, 2016

For the star players expected to make a difference at the 2016 European Championships, it was a tale of contrasting fortunes during the just concluded group stages. One of the stars who have sparkled brightly is West Ham striker DIMITRI PAYET, who has been outstanding for the host nation, France. He scored a sensational goal against Romania in the opening match, and netted another against Albania in their second match. He can be seen as the game changer of the championship so far, as everytime he is on the ball, defenders have to be up and doing in a bid to prevent him from finding the back of the net.

PAUL POGBA has not really shown his worth so far in Euro 2016, but he was outstanding in the final group match where France drew 0-0 with Switzerland.

GARETH BALE has scored three goals for Wales so far, and is the joint highest scorer of the tournament. The Real Madrid striker netted one goal each against their opponents in the group stage (Slovakia, England and Russia). His goal against Russia ended a 58-year-old record held by Ivor Allchurch as the highest goal scorer in a tournament for Wales. The last time this happened in the Euos was in 2004, when Milan Baros of Czech Republic and Ruud Van Nisterooy of the Netherlands scored in each group matches.

ANDRES INIESTA of Spain is so far adjudged as the best player of Euro 2016. He was instrumental in the two victories Spain got, against Czech Republic and Turkey, with his impeccable passes, smart defending, and great finishes. After the first game in Toulouse, Iniesta said: “I always try to take responsibility when I play. That’s how I enjoy my football, and it’s no different now. It’s all about the collective, and in that sense, having responsibility isn’t something I try to shrink.”

CRISTIANO RONALDO has been having a hard time at Euro 2016. In three matches he has only scored two goals and provided one assist, all coming in the last group match against Hungary, which ended 3-3. It took the Real Madrid talisman 222 minutes to score in the championship. These goals eventually made him the first player to score in four European Championships in a row (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). If he had not stepped up his game against Hungary, Portugal would have been eliminated from Euro 2016 at group stages, but they eventually qualified for the knockout stage, with three points from three draws

WAYNE ROONEY has been a good distributor of passes at Euro 2016 and has fired eight shots and completed seven dribbles in the competition. It was of much concern how the Manchester United striker would fare in the championship, following his hectic season for the Red Devil but he has so far proved his worth for England.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC ended his international career for Sweden on a dismissal note. Sweden crashed out of the championship at group stages, without any Swede player scoring a goal. The only goal the country got in the tournament was an own-goal by Ciaran Clark of the Republic of Ireland. Ibrahimovic, who has 62 goals in 116 appearances for Sweden, and whowas very instrumental for Paris St. Germain’s triumph in the just-concluded season, would like to forget Euro 2016 in a hurry.

Expectations are high as the knockout stage begins this weekend, with the Round of 16.

ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES

Switzerland v Poland – Saturday 14:00,

Wales v Northern Ireland – Saturday, 17:00

Croatia v Portugal – Saturday, 20:00

France v Republic of Ireland – Sunday, 14:00

Germany v Slovakia – Sunday, 17:00

Hungary v Belgium – Sunday, 20:00

Italy v Spain – Monday, 17:00

England v Iceland – Monday, 20:00

•Photo shows Spain’s talismanic midfielder Andres Iniesta, so far the best player at Euro 2016.

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 24, 2016

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