With exciting football and vibrant fans lighting up cities across Germany, Euro 2024 was exciting, even though European football’s biggest stars failed to conquer the tournament. Between injuries, poor form and bad luck, many of football’s stars were unimpressed in the group stage. Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, with the record sixth Euros, is yet to score in three games – if he can, the 39-year-old will become the oldest-ever goalscorer at the tournament.
Arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe only scored for France with a penalty against Poland in a disappointing 1-1 draw that resulted in the favorites finishing second in Group D.
Mbappé wasted a golden opportunity against Austria, missing the draw against the Netherlands with a broken nose, before returning with a face mask in Les Bleus’ third match.
“He’s hungry to play and the game would have done him good,” said France coach Didier Deschamps, hopeful the forward will quickly find his devastating best with the round of 16 clash against Belgium looming.
Poland’s talisman Robert Lewandowski was unable to play in the opening defeat to the Netherlands due to a thigh problem.
The Barcelona striker and his country were eliminated because he was ineffective when coming off the bench against Austria, before scoring a penalty in France’s equaliser.
England duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored in open play against Serbia and Denmark respectively, but underperformed after thriving at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich this season.
England manager Gareth Southgate hooked Kane in the dull 1-1 draw against Denmark, but the subsequent 0-0 against Slovenia was even grimmer.
“Not every player is going to star in every game,” Southgate said afterwards.
Frenchman Antoine Griezmann and Englishman Phil Foden also scored goals after strong seasons at Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
“Sometimes (Griezmann’s) generosity means he doesn’t have as clear a head as he should,” said Deschamps, who replaced the midfielder in the final group game.
Belgium’s all-time top scorer, Romelu Lukaku, is also goalless, although not for lack of trying, having had three disallowed by VAR as his team finished second in Group E.
Veteran Luka Modric, 38, normally a key figure in Croatia’s often impressive exploits, scored against Italy but only after missing a penalty and struggling in the first two matches as his country were eliminated.
Lots of own goals
Remarkably, there were seven own goals, making up 26 percent of the 27 inadvertently scored in the competition’s history.
Even the players who have shined so far have largely been surprises for one reason or another.
N’Golo Kanté is proving instrumental for France despite moving a year ago to play in Saudi Arabia, while talented youngster Jamal Musiala has hosted the German squad ahead of veteran stars Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Kai Havertz.
Target Niclas Fullkrug scored twice for Germany, as did Musiala, while Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz and Romania’s Razvan Marin also scored twice.
Dutch striker Cody Gakpo scored the second goal in the 3-2 defeat against Austria, in a performance that his coach Ronald Koeman called “terrible”.
The tournament’s current top scorer is newcomer Georges Mikautadze, from Georgia, with three goals, two of them from penalties.
Spain qualified top of Group B with one game to spare and have been the undisputed team of the tournament so far, but two of their key players are unlikely candidates in Fabian Ruiz and Marc Cucurella.
With 15 matches still to be played before one of the remaining 16 teams is crowned champions in Berlin on July 14, fans are still awaiting the names of the tournament’s stars to join the party.
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