Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 6, 2016

Chelsea are the Premier League's biggest winners at Euro 2016 so far

As soon as England head home from a tournament, aside from the fallout and recriminations, the focus almost immediately returns to the Premier League.
ESPN FC examines how the top flight's top clubs might have enjoyed Euro 2016.
Chelsea
Gary Cahill was Chelsea's sole sufferer of English shame against Iceland and, aside from the travails of the central defender, Blues fans will have richly enjoyed the last 16.
On Sunday, Eden Hazard finally looked like the player of 2014-15 as he tore Hungary asunder in Belgium's 4-0 victory, while captaining his country.
Monday, though, was an even better day. As Italy ended Spain's eight-year reign with a 2-0 victory in Paris, incoming Stamford Bridge coach Antonio Conte looked the real deal.
It was a tactical masterclass to remind of peak Jose Mourinho, a meticulous plan carried out to the letter that broke an opponent's spirit. Conte's touchline antics, meanwhile, guarantee entertainment.
Cesc Fabregas' failings for Spain were a negative, but Euro 2016 has given huge grounds for Chelsea optimism.
Manchester United
Talking of Mourinho, United's new manager has significant work to do, judging by the troubles of a number of his players.
Though goalkeeper David De Gea made several superb saves vs. Italy, his spill led to Giorgio Chiellini's opening goal and came after he was shaky against Croatia in Spain's final group game.
And Mourinho cannot have been too impressed with the idea of Wayne Rooney as a midfielder. Plaudits were offered by many in the English media after the captain's performances against Russia and Wales but, against Slovakia as a sub and then Iceland, Rooney was poor.
Wayne Rooney had a mixed tournament playing in midfield for England.
Chris Smalling also struggled at centre-back but at least there was Marcus Rashford, whose scandalously short time on the field offered genuine excitement for suffering England fans. Pace and verve are what United need.
Away from England, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has something to prove, should he join United, after failing to do much for a poor Sweden team. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marouane Fellaini and Matteo Darmian have played bit-part roles for Germany, Belgium and Italy respectively.
Manchester City
What might Pep Guardiola learn from Euro 2016? Joe Hart's position as goalkeeper was already questionable due to a lack of proficiency with the ball at his feet and two dreadful errors, first for Gareth Bale's goal for Wales and then letting Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's weak shot squirm in, can only damage that outward self-confidence.
Meanwhile, a reported "Pep talk" with Raheem Sterling appeared to have little effect; after winning an early penalty against Iceland, Sterling gave another anonymous showing.
Perhaps Guardiola might be pleased that David Silva looked more like his old self before Spain's early exit and with Adil Rami suspended for France, he might get a glimpse of Eliaquim Mangala as a central defender against Iceland.
Beyond that, Kevin De Bruyne's excellence for Belgium, especially against Hungary in the Round of 16, has been the high point among City players.
Arsenal
Olivier Giroud is currently carrying the flag for Arsene Wenger's men with France. The striker scored the first goal of the tournament against Romania and then set up Antoine Griezmann's winner vs. Republic of Ireland.
Also in the quarterfinals is Mesut Ozil, though the Germany playmaker missed a penalty against Slovakia. A rather more costly spot kick miss by new Arsenal signing Granit saw Switzerland exit at the hands of Poland.
Wenger might wonder how much good the presence in France of Jack Wilshere has done his injury-prone midfielder, who looks far from fitness and sharpness. At least Aaron Ramsey's excellence for Wales has offset that.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs ran out of gas at the end of last season and no player has looked as exhausted in France as Harry Kane. His performances for England, especially against Russia and Iceland, were woeful and the strange decision to grant him dead-ball duties threw even sharper light on his failings.
Harry Kane woe v Iceland
In his first major tournament, Harry Kane made minimal impact for England.
Dele Alli, meanwhile, was not much more effective, and though Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were busy on the overlap, they must take blame as England defenders for that Iceland farce. Eric Dier was given the label of "England's Sergio Busquets" by one excitable newspaper, yet struggled for consistency. 
Roy Hodgson took a Spurs backbone to France and those players struggled. At least Mauricio Pochettino can take solace in the improving performances of Jan Verthongen and Toby Alderweireld for Belgium.
Liverpool
Along with Juventus, Liverpool have been the most-represented club at Euro 2016 but the fortunes of the Anfield club's 12 players have been mixed. 
Daniel Sturridge's winner against Wales was England's high point but the problem was that it was not repeated.
The rest of Jurgen Klopp's English contingent, aside from Adam Lallana, who succumbed to injury after not exactly convincing, did not get much of a chance to impress. Jordan Henderson and Nathaniel Clyne played in a frustrating draw with Slovakia while James Milner barely featured.
Much the same could be said of Belgium's Divock Origi and Christian Benteke. Goalkeeper Danny Ward impressed as a late replacement in Wales' opening 2-1 win vs. of Slovakia, while Joe Allen, reportedly set to be sold by Klopp this summer, has excelled in midfield for the quarterfinalists.
Leicester City
Last but not least are the Premier League champions, for whom the best news from Euro 2016 will have been Jamie Vardy's pledge to stay and sign a new contract, after turning down a move to Arsenal.
At the tournament itself, Vardy has been by no means England's worst performer and scored a timely equaliser against Wales, but might have done better with a second-half chance against Slovakia.
N'Golo Kante has instead been Leicester's star man in France as the engine of Didier Deschamps midfield, and he will be missed by Les Bleus when suspended against Iceland in the quarterfinals.
The less said about Christian Fuchs' troubles during Austria's disastrously disappointing tournament, the better.

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