Euro 2024 in Germany has seen its fair share of disappointments as some of Europe's biggest football stars have failed to shine. Injuries, shaky form, and tough luck have plagued many of the game's top talents during the group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo, marking a record sixth Euros appearance with Portugal, has yet to score in three games. At 39, he aims to become the oldest-ever goal scorer at the tournament if he finds the net.
Kylian Mbappe, often hailed as one of the world's best, has only managed a penalty goal for France against Poland in a lackluster 1-1 draw, leading his team to finish second in Group D. He missed a crucial chance against Austria and had to play with a mask due to a broken nose in subsequent matches. France coach Didier Deschamps remains optimistic about Mbappe's resurgence as they face Belgium in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Poland's key player Robert Lewandowski missed the opener against the Netherlands due to a thigh issue, and despite scoring a penalty against France, couldn't prevent his team's elimination.
England's Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane found the net against Serbia and Denmark respectively but have otherwise struggled to replicate their club form at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Coach Gareth Southgate has been rotating players amid mixed performances, acknowledging that not every player can dominate every game.
Antoine Griezmann (France) and Phil Foden (England) have also failed to score despite impressive seasons in club football.
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku has been unlucky with three goals disallowed by VAR, while Croatia's Luka Modric, a stalwart in midfield, had a tough start but managed to score against Italy.
Surprisingly, the standout performers have often been unexpected. N'Golo Kante has been crucial for France despite playing in Saudi Arabia last year, and young talents like Jamal Musiala have shone brighter than seasoned stars like Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan for Germany.
While there have been impressive moments, including seven own goals, the tournament awaits its defining stars. With 15 matches remaining before the Berlin final on July 14, fans are eager for the established names to make their mark on Euro 2024.
AFP
Published: 27 Jun 2024, 03:12 pm IST
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