With the European Championships just days away, we’re having a look at the best players to watch from each nation.
Perhaps the least glamorous group of the tournament is Group C. A faltering Netherlands side will be the headline act, while Ukraine, Austria, and North Macedonia will be there to cause an upset.
While the superstar power might not quite be there, the group is wide open, with plenty of underdog potential. It should be an interesting watch.
Austria – Sasa Kalajdzic
The Austrian squad has a strong Bundesliga contingent, and Sasa Kalajdzic is a part of that.
The 23-year-old has just enjoyed the best season of his career, netting 17 in all competitions for a mid-table Stuttgart side. On top of this, he has been in good form on the international stage, scoring three in his last four.
At 6’7″ tall, the striker will be a constant threat no matter who he’s up against. And, with a player like David Alaba whipping them in, you’d fancy Kalajdzic to get a few goals. It could be a big summer for him.
Suggested Article: Austria Euro 2020 squad page.
Netherlands – Memphis Depay
It’s going to be an interesting summer for Memphis Depay. With his contract expiring at Lyon, he is expected to be moving to Barcelona.
However, a deal is yet to be reached, and it is perhaps dragging on longer than the Catalan giants would have hoped. If the forward needs any more bargaining power to get himself a better contract, a strong showing at Euro 2020 could do the trick.
In addition, with Virgil van Dijk missing the tournament through injury, the onus may be on the frontline to win games for the Netherlands. Depay will be the main man going forward, coming off the back of a fantastic season with Lyon.
Suggested Article: Netherlands Euro 2020 Squad.
North Macedonia – Goran Pandev
North Macedonia are making their first-ever appearance at a major international tournament this summer, and one man who will be desperate to impress is Goran Pandev.
Turning 38 next month, the forward marks the 20th anniversary of his international debut on June 6. Since then, he has become the nation’s record appearance maker with 119, and record goalscorer with 37.
Not much will be expected of North Macedonia, but what a fairytale it would be if Pandev could shine.
Suggested Article: North Macedonia Euro 2020 squad.
Ukraine – Ruslan Malinovskiy
Finishing off Group C is Ukraine, who have some recognisable names. While many of their players ply their trade in their homeland, the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko will be familiar to Premier League viewers.
The potential star man, however, is Ruslan Malinovskiy, who has just enjoyed a fine season with Atalanta. With a gem of a left foot and deadly set pieces, the midfielder recorded eight goals and 12 assists in the league last term – no other Serie A player set up more goals.
He ended the campaign with a flourish, scoring seven and assisting nine in his last 12 appearances in all competitions. This includes goals in two separate games against Juventus.
Suggested Article: Ukraine Euro 2020 Squad.
Also Read: Euro 2020 preview: Gareth Bale and Denis Zakaria the standouts in Group A
