Today, July 14, marks the conclusion of Euro 2024 with the highly anticipated final match between Spain and England. As fans eagerly await the showdown, the media is starting to reflect on the tournament’s run. One such reflection comes from English publication Give Me Sport, which has compiled a list of 13 players who have significantly underperformed during the competition. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé top this disappointing list.
Here are the top 13 disappointments of Euro 2024:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
The legendary striker was expected to be a crucial presence for Portugal. However, his performances have not lived up to expectations. While he has contributed at times, his overall impact has been limited, especially in the decisive matches.
Kylian Mbappé (France)
Widely regarded for his explosive talent, Mbappe struggled to find his rhythm throughout the tournament. Despite his flair, his inability to seize golden opportunities became a talking point as France exited earlier than expected.
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Coming into the tournament with high expectations, Lukaku's finishing has been disappointing. His struggles in front of goal were magnified when Belgium failed to progress beyond the group stage, a devastating result for a team with championship aspirations.
Antoine Griezmann (France)
Known for his contribution to France's past successes, Griezmann's performance in this tournament has been lackluster. He has failed to generate the spark needed to elevate his team's play, which has drawn much criticism.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
The experienced goalkeeper's performance raised eyebrows when he made key errors that led to goals against Germany. His leadership and presence were crucial, but the mistakes proved costly.
Jorginho (Italian)
A key figure in Italy's previous triumphs, Jorginho has struggled to assert his influence in midfield at Euro 2024, with his inability to control the tempo of the game contributing to Italy's disappointing exit.
Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia)
High hopes were pinned on Mitrović to lead the Serbian attack, but he failed to achieve the vital goals needed. His poor performance highlighted the difficulties the Serbian team faced throughout the tournament.
Andrei Lunin (Ukraine)
The young goalkeeper was under pressure to perform but made several errors that hampered Ukraine's efforts. His inconsistency in key games played a key role in the team's early elimination.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
The right-back, renowned for his attacking abilities, struggled defensively in crucial moments. His inability to balance his attacking contributions with his defensive duties overshadowed his usual strengths.
Josko Guardiol (Croatia)
The young defender had a mixed tournament, featuring moments of brilliance and costly mistakes. Despite expectations that he would be a rising star, his performances were inconsistent.
Jérémy Doku (Belgique)
Doku's pace and skill were expected to make the difference, but he failed to influence the games as expected. His struggles were emblematic of Belgium's overall underperformance.
Harry Kane (England)
As captain, Kane was expected to lead by example; however, his form has faltered at critical moments. The lack of goals in crucial matches has become a sore point for England fans.
Virgil van Dijk (Pays-Bas)
Renowned for his defensive prowess, Van Dijk was under scrutiny for lapses in concentration. His leadership appeared diminished as the Dutch defence lacked the solidity fans were accustomed to.
