With 22 goals, professionals from the Bundesliga have a good share in the so far gratifying hit rate at this European Football Championship. But not everyone was happy about their goals, for example not for Robert Lewandowski. Others, on the other hand, are happy without goals after the European Championship preliminary round. Some winners and disappointed from the Bundesliga:
WINNER
Patrik Schick (Czech Republic / 25)
At Bayer Leverkusen, Patrik Schick experienced a mixed season final spurt. After separating from coach Peter Bosz at the end of March, the striker only managed one Bundesliga goal, and the 25-year-old didn’t always look 100 percent fit. Nevertheless, Schick got off to a flying start at the EM. After an optimal preparation with the Czechs, he already scored twice in the 2-0 opener in Scotland – and scored the most beautiful goal of the tournament from almost 50 meters. In the round of 16 against the Netherlands on Sunday (6 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV), the hopeful should now lead his team to the next surprise.
Axel Witsel (Belgium/32)
This return came as a surprise. A good four months after his Achilles tendon rupture, Dortmund’s Axel Witsel was appointed to the Belgian EM squad by national coach Roberto Martínez. The aim was to slowly introduce the veteran. As a joker in the 2: 1 against Denmark and as the starting eleven in the 2: 0 against Finland, the man with the distinctive hairstyle made a good impression and was also recommended for the knockout round. The Witsel issue is a big one in Belgium, the association even sent two doctors to a press conference before its comeback to answer questions about the recovery of the professional.
Yussuf Poulsen (Denmark / 27)
The Danes could “anything, except goal scorers”, was the headline of the “kicker” in its special issue for this European Championship. But so far the very man who has always been denied these goalscoring qualities has refuted this: Yussuf Poulsen from RB Leipzig scored the much acclaimed 1-0 against Belgium (1: 2) and the important 2-0 against Russia (4: 4: 1). Since the breakdown of playmaker Christian Eriksen, the whole country has been feverishly with this team. The cohesion, according to Poulsen, is “brutal”. After this drama, the 27-year-old moved from the outside to the center forward position. So far it worked out well.
Emil Forsberg (Sweden / 29)
No question, the 29-year-old from RB Leipzig has already more than met the high expectations of him. Forsberg takes responsibility, puts himself in the service of the team and his own offensive art for the sake of defensive work. Forsberg, no Zlatan Imbrahimovic. A quiet catcher. He has already scored three goals, continuation in the round of 16 is possible.
Yann Sommer (Switzerland / 32)
The goalkeeper of Borussia Mönchengladbach is once again the great support of his team at the EM. In the 1-1 win against Wales and the 3-1 win against Turkey, the Swiss number 1 shone with strong saves and gave his back line security. In his private life, summer also experienced something very special during the European Championship. Between the two group matches against Italy and Turkey, he flew to Germany to live with his wife and his second daughter, who was just born. “I was able to take my wife and my little one in my arms. That was very nice,” said Sommer, describing the situation. “Our children met for the first time. There is nothing much nicer.”
DISAPPOINTED
Jadon Sancho (England / 21)
Jadon Sancho was only allowed to play a little more than six minutes at this EM. At the start of the English against Croatia (1-0), the BVB professional was not even in the squad. It is unlikely that his status will change at the start of the knockout round against Germany on Tuesday (6 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV). Like no other coach in the tournament, coach Gareth Southgate has a number of exceptional footballers on the offensive: Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount – or Sancho. After all, the Dortmund player is getting closer to the club change he is aiming for: his transfer to Manchester United seems to be on the home stretch.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland / 32)
The world footballer himself played his best tournament with the national team: three goals in three games are decent. However, it was the only three Poles at this European Championship. And they only reached one point, the EM ended after the preliminary round. And Lewandowski was frustrated. “You have to digest it first, and it won’t be easy,” said the Bayern Munich striker: “It will be difficult to come to terms with it.”
Peter Gulacsi (Hungary / 31)
Hungary’s national coach Marco Rossi sees Peter Gulacsi on the same level as Germany’s captain Manuel Neuer. At the EM, the goalkeeper from RB Leipzig demonstrated his extra class. Against Portugal (0: 3) and France (1: 1) he annoyed Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé & Co. Gulacsi for a long time like a true goalkeeper titan. It was only against Germany (2-2) that the 31-year-old looked bad when Kai Havertz equalized for the first time. Gulacsi was done after the EM cut. “It’s hard to find words,” he said.
Lukas Hradecky (Finland / 31)
The Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper is Finland’s tragic hero at this European Championship. In the 1-0 win against Denmark, he held superbly and even saved a penalty. And also in the decisive game against Belgium he could not be overcome for at least 73 minutes. Hradecky kept everything that came on his goal – until he slipped an own goal a quarter of an hour before the end when the score was 0-0. The ball bounced off the post on his hand and from there into the goal. With a 0-0, the Finns would have reached the round of 16.
Ondrej Duda (Slovakia / 26)
It all started so well for Cologne’s offensive players and their Slovaks. A 2-1 victory over Poland and world footballer Robert Lewandowski was a direct start. Duda, who was used as the false nine by the Slovaks, played well. After a setback against Sweden (0: 1), they suffered a bitter defeat against Spain (0: 5). The 26-year-old therefore no longer has to serve his suspension after the second yellow card after the tournament at this European Championship.
dpa
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Stand: 25.06.2021, 07:35
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