Now the dust has started to settle following Spain’s EURO 2024 final victory over England, Alex Keble looks at the nine standout Premier League performers in Germany.
There were 103 Premier League players representing their countries in EURO 2024 and more than a quarter of them – 27 in total – were at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday.
Rodri, Marc Cucurella and David Raya formed part of the Spain team that lifted the trophy, while 24 of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad ply their trade in England’s top flight.
That’s a pretty impressive total, but even more so that 54 Premier League players – over half of the total that travelled to Germany – made it to at least the quarter-final stage.
Here’s a look at the Premier League players who starred at EURO 2024:
Rodri (Spain/Man City)
Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri won EURO 2024 Player of the Tournament after controlling the tempo of each and every one of his nation’s matches en route to the title.
Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri won EURO 2024 Player of the Tournament after controlling the tempo of each and every one of his nation’s matches en route to the title.
It was his partnership with Fabian Ruiz at the base of Spain’s midfield that gave them the grounding needed not just to dominate possession but to set free their star wingers, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
Among midfielders, only Germany’s Toni Kroos attempted more passes than Rodri’s total of 439, while the Man City star’s pass completion of 92.9 per cent was higher than the 90.4 per cent of Kroos.
William Saliba (France/Arsenal)
It wasn’t long ago that Didier Deschamps was unsure about Arsenal’s Saliba. He “does things that I don’t like so much” was Deschamps’ cryptic description of the centre-back before the tournament began.
It wasn’t long ago that Didier Deschamps was unsure about Arsenal’s Saliba. He “does things that I don’t like so much” was Deschamps’ cryptic description of the centre-back before the tournament began.
But Saliba played every single minute as the leader in central defence, where he helped France keep four clean sheets in six matches, most notably muscling Cristiano Ronaldo out of the match in a 0-0 draw with Portugal.
This was a defining tournament for Saliba, then, even if France ultimately fell short in a semi-final in which he had a solid game against Spain.
The 23-year-old is now one of Europe’s most highly-rated defenders, and has finally emerged as a guaranteed starter for France.
Marc Cucurella (Spain/Chelsea)
Praise for Cucurella has perhaps been a little overblown at EURO 2024 considering that his flank was Spain’s weak point defensively, as England almost proved towards the end of Sunday’s final.
Praise for Cucurella has perhaps been a little overblown at EURO 2024 considering that his flank was Spain’s weak point defensively, as England almost proved towards the end of Sunday’s final.
Nevertheless, Cucurella’s recovery has been a great story. Having struggled at Chelsea throughout 2023/24, few anticipated he would be setting up the winning goal in the EURO 2024 final and getting his hands on a winners’ medal this summer.
Spain could not have done it without his strong partnership alongside Williams. The two players alternated going outside and inside, confounding defenders to play clever one-twos that made Spain’s left their most dangerous side.
Bukayo Saka (England/Arsenal)
The highlight of Saka’s tournament was of course his brilliant long-range strike against Switzerland and his penalty shootout redemption that followed.
The highlight of Saka’s tournament was of course his brilliant long-range strike against Switzerland and his penalty shootout redemption that followed.
But arguably even more impressive has been Saka’s intelligence, in and out of possession, when moving from right wing to right wing-back.
It was Saka’s movement and defensive work that allowed England to move seamlessly between different shapes after the switch to a 3-4-2-1, and that’s before considering that Saka – alone on the right – was consistently England’s biggest threat.
Jordan Pickford (England/Everton)
He might not have topped the charts in any statistics, but Pickford was the best goalkeeper at EURO 2024 for becoming such a sturdy and dependable figure for England.
He might not have topped the charts in any statistics, but Pickford was the best goalkeeper at EURO 2024 for becoming such a sturdy and dependable figure for England.
His penalty save against Switzerland was vital, as were his antics throughout that shootout, plus there were some key saves against the Netherlands in the semi-final.
That confrontational style, and the way Pickford oozes self-confidence, helped England fight through to the final despite playing below their best.
It’s easy to take a solid and unflappable goalkeeper for granted. Pickford has been Gareth Southgate’s reliable No 1 for an impressive eight years.
Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)
Although some England supporters have complained about Rice’s performances in Germany, he quietly bossed central midfield and was undoubtedly a key contributor to England’s defensive sturdiness.
Although some England supporters have complained about Rice’s performances in Germany, he quietly bossed central midfield and was undoubtedly a key contributor to England’s defensive sturdiness.
Rice topped the charts for distance covered (85.7km), balls recovered (46), and combined tackles and interceptions (27). That says it all, really.
He wasn’t as ambitious going forward as he is at Arsenal, but only because Southgate instructed him to be more cautious. Rice, under the radar, was England’s anchor.
Marc Guehi (England/Crystal Palace)
The Premier League’s breakout star of the tournament was Palace’s Guehi, who barely put a foot wrong across six matches starting alongside John Stones in central defence.
The Premier League’s breakout star of the tournament was Palace’s Guehi, who barely put a foot wrong across six matches starting alongside John Stones in central defence.
Guehi, who isn’t used to playing on the left side, let alone on the left of a back three, adapted brilliantly to performing at such a high level for the first time in his career.
His total of 44 balls recovered ranked second in the tournament, and yet it was Guehi’s gracefulness in possession that really helped England out. He instantly looks like an upgrade on the injured Harry Maguire.
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands/Liverpool)
After enduring a difficult season at Liverpool, Gakpo found a new lease of life on the left wing for the Netherlands this summer.
After enduring a difficult season at Liverpool, Gakpo found a new lease of life on the left wing for the Netherlands this summer.
He enjoyed playing with more space in front of him, excelling when Netherlands attacks ended with a through-ball out to that left side.
With three goals and one assist, only Spain’s Yamal and Dani Olmo amassed more goal contributions than Gakpo, with five each.
Kai Havertz (Germany/Arsenal)
Right up until Spain’s Mikel Merino scored in the 119th minute of their quarter-final, hosts Germany looked like the team to beat – and Havertz was their secret weapon.
Right up until Spain’s Mikel Merino scored in the 119th minute of their quarter-final, hosts Germany looked like the team to beat – and Havertz was their secret weapon.
The Arsenal forward was deployed as a “false nine” in every Germany match, where his intelligent movement and creativity helped get the best out of Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane.
Havertz ended the tournament with two goals and an assist from only 392 minutes of football.
