Euro 2024: Rating every Barcelona player’s group stage performance
Barcelona have a significant presence at the ongoing European Championship, with 11 players representing different national teams.
These players include four for Spain, two each for Portugal and Germany, and one each for Poland, France, and Denmark.
Originally, the number could have been 12, but midfielder Frenkie de Jong had to withdraw due to an injury. Additionally, Gavi and Alejandro Balde were also unable to participate due to not recovering in time.
Interestingly, many of these players are key starters for their national teams and now that the group stage matches have concluded, it is a good moment to evaluate the performances of these Barcelona representatives at the Euros.
Spain
Pedri: 5/10
Pedri has participated in two games for Spain but was substituted in both. Despite limited playing time, he managed to contribute with an assist. Due to the stiff competition in Spain’s midfield, the Barcelona player has found it challenging to secure consistent minutes on the field.
Fermin Lopez: 4/10
The young midfielder has only played 28 minutes during the competition, coming in during Spain’s final group-stage match against Albania. He was on the bench for the first two games and made a late appearance as a substitute in the third game.
Ferran Torres: 5/10
Ferran Torres has played less than 100 minutes for the national team but managed to score a goal. Notably, his goal secured a 1-0 victory against Albania, which deserves some extra recognition.
Lamine Yamal: 6/10
Lamine Yamal started the tournament on a high note, assisting Dani Carvajal’s goal in Spain’s opening game. However, his impact has since diminished. Although he averages 1.34 attempts per game, none have resulted in goals.
Germany
Marc-Andre ter Stegen: N/A
With Manuel Neuer as the first-choice goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has not featured in any group stage matches. This trend is expected to continue into the knockout rounds.
Ilkay Gundogan: 9/10
Ilkay Gundogan has played in all three of Germany’s group-stage games, proving his indispensability to both the national team and Barcelona. He played 264 out of 270 possible minutes, scoring a goal and providing two assists, highlighting his crucial role for Germany.
Portugal
Joao Felix: 4/10
Joao Felix missed Portugal’s first two group-stage matches but returned for the third game against Georgia, which Portugal lost 0-2. During his 90 minutes on the pitch, he had three attempts and a passing accuracy of 91%.
Joao Cancelo: 7/10
A regular starter for Portugal, Joao Cancelo has played 157 minutes in the competition. Although he has only one assist to his name, his versatility has been invaluable, allowing the coach to deploy him in various positions. In the two matches he played, he averaged one tackle per game and recovered the ball ten times.
France
Jules Kounde: 7/10
Jules Kounde has played in all three of France’s group-stage matches, performing well in a team that struggled to score, with just two goals in three games (one being an own goal). His consistency and reliability have been crucial for Didier Deschamps, despite being played out of his usual position.
Poland
Robert Lewandowski: 4/10
High expectations were placed on veteran forward Robert Lewandowski, but Poland exited the Euros without a single win. Although he scored against France, it was from a penalty kick.
Denmark
Andreas Christensen: 8/10
Denmark qualified for the Round of 16 despite winning only one group-stage match. Andreas Christensen has been a standout player, playing every minute of all three matches. He averages four tackles per game and has recovered the ball 16 times.
In summary, Barcelona’s players have had mixed performances at the Euros. Some, like Ilkay Gundogan and Andreas Christensen, have shone brightly, while others, such as Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix, have had disappointing outings.
As the tournament progresses into the knockout stages, it will be interesting to see how these players continue to perform and whether they can help their respective teams achieve further success.