Havertz and Bellingham dazzle to make Euro 2024 Team of the Round
After a thrilling first round of group stage matches at Euro 2024, we’ve taken a look back at the standout performers from the first five days of action in Germany. Represented in our XI are Spain, Turkiye, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, England, Netherlands and Romania.
Athletic Club’s Unai Simon ended the first round of the European Championship group stage matches as the competition’s highest rated goalkeeper having denied Bruno Petkovic from the spot in Berlin on Saturday. The 27-year-old also made a further five saves to ensure a clean sheet for Spain.
Joining Simon in our XI is compatriot Dani Carvajal, who made it two goals in his last two competitive appearances, following the Champions League final, when he netted in the 3-0 victory over Croatia. The 32-year-old netted with his only shot on goal, while he also managed six ball recoveries and four duels won for a WhoScored rating of 7.84.
Samet Akaydin (Turkiye) - 8.05
The game of the round came in Dortmund, where Turkiye and Georgia battled it out in an enthralling contest. Panathinaikos defender Samet Akaydin makes our team having defended superbly throughout, as the 30-year-old won both of the tackles he attempted, all five of the aerial duels he contested, made one last-man tackle, one goal line clearance, two blocks and five clearances.
Slovenia sprung a surprise on Denmark when they earned a point in Stuttgart on Sunday, and 25-year-old centre-back Jaka Bijol impressed. The Udinese man made more tackles (3) than any other player on the pitch, while he also played five accurate long balls, made four interceptions, 10 clearances and misplaced just four of the 35 passes he attempted.
Michel Aebischer (Switzerland) - 8.35
Bologna’s Michel Aebischer takes up the left-back berth in our XI having scored and assisted in Switzerland’s 3-1 win over Hungary on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old also made two key passes, one tackle and three ball recoveries to return a WhoScored rating of 8.35.
Jamal Musiala (Germany) - 8.73
The first of two host nation representatives in our XI is Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who dazzled as Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany kicked off the tournament in style on Friday evening. The 21-year-old doubled the hosts’ lead after just 19 minutes, while he also managed five successful dribbles and nine ground duels won for a WhoScored rating of 8.73.
Completing a treble of Spanish players is PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who starred in Saturday’s victory over Croatia in Group B. The 28-year-old found Alvaro Morata with a wonderfully timed through ball after 29 minutes, before doubling his nation’s lead with a fabulous solo effort just three minutes later.
Jude Bellingham (England) - 8.08
Fresh from winning the La Liga and Champions League double in his debut season at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham continued a remarkable year by stepping up as the match winner for England against Serbia on Sunday. The 20-year-old, making one of his now-signature late runs into the box, headed home a deflected Bukayo Saka cross after 13 minutes. Bellingham also misplaced just three of the 70 passes he attempted on the night, and completed all four of his attempted long balls.
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) - 8.88
With a WhoScored rating of 8.88, Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo is our Player of the Round, having turned in a fine display in the Netherlands’ opening victory over Poland. After going behind early on, Gakpo netted on 29 minutes to get his side on level terms, while he would also go on to make three key passes, five successful dribbles, two tackles and four ball recoveries.
Romania striker Denis Dragus helped his nation to a remarkable 3-0 victory over Ukraine on Monday when he netted their third just 12 minutes into the second half. The 24-year-old, who found the net with his only shot of the afternoon, also made one key pass and four successful dribbles, to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.16.
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz rounds off our XI having scored and assisted in Friday’s thrashing of Scotland in Munich. Havertz found the net with each of his attempts on goal, while he also won all three of the aerial duels he contested, to land a WhoScored rating of 8.03.
