- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY : Should Jude Bellingham be dropped by Gareth Southgate?
- Manuel Neuer has not been at his best despite Germany’s progress at Euro 2024
- He is among players in Sofascore’s worst XI of group stage, but who joins him?
After the thrills and spills of the Euro 2024 group stage, it’s a pertinent time to reflect ahead of the business end of the tournament.
Which players impressed in their opening three fixtures and who will want to avert their eyes from the Worst XI?
The stats boffins at Sofascore have dug into the data and put together the best and worst performers based on an algorithm so there’s no subjectivity here.
Some big names make the Worst XI side, with German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer continuing his shaky pre-tournament form on the big stage despite the hosts cruising through to the knockout stages as group winners.
And he wasn’t the only major casualty of the group stage, with Manchester United‘s £72million man Rasmus Hojlund struggling for Denmark.
The striker is yet to get off the mark and his rating of 6.47 out of 10 is joint fourth lowest in the competition.
He’ll be out to boost that back up in the knockout game against Germany on Saturday.
Click here to resize this module
Another Premier League player joins Hojlund in the Worst XI, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez rated 6.57 across the first three games for Hungary, who crashed out despite beating Scotland in their final match.
He’s alongside team-mate Attila Fiola at the back, who partners Robin Hranac of Czechia.
The Scots are also represented at full-back in the shape of Celtic’s Anthony Ralston – who has the joint-lowest rating at 6.33 and in midfield Italy’s David Frattesi is perhaps a surprise inclusion.
He is joined in the middle by Silvan Widmer of Switzerland and Poland’s Przemysław Frankowski.
Albania’s Jasir Asani and Slovenia’s Jan Mlakar are on the wings either side of Hojlund.
On a more positive note, the Best XI of the group stage features some of the world’s best talents and there are even a couple of surprise inclusions.
Of course, Kylian Mbappe leads the line, having provided a constant threat for France despite missing the second game against the Netherlands after breaking his nose in the opening win.
Click here to resize this module
Cody Gakpo featured in that game and the Liverpool man’s score of 7.83 is enough to see him take the left wing spot.
Kevin De Bruyne has been Belgium’s main man and slots in in attacking midfield alongside fellow Manchester City star Bernardo Silva.
The highest rated player of the tournament so far comes from Spain and is one few would have predicted before a ball was kicked.
Fabian Ruiz has been excellent for La Roja, who have won every game so far and the PSG all-rounder’s score of 8.60 smashes everyone else.
He partners Toni Kroos in the engine room and the German is performing superbly on what is his last tournament before retirement.
There are some surprises at the back, including Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella, rated 7.95.
He’s never quite nailed down the shirt for the Blues but reminded everyone of his quality on the big stage so far and will be key for the side on the tough half of the draw.
At centre-back, Slovenia’s Jaka Bijol takes his place after holding England to a 0-0 in the final group game and lines up with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
There’s another veteran German in the side at right-back in Joshua Kimmich but a surprise in goal with Georgia’s stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Valencia goalkeeper kept a clean sheet against Portugal in the final group game, making some incredible saves along the way and picks up a rating of 8.17.