Manchester United players at EURO 2020: Group Stage

Manchester United are not short of firepower at this summer’s EURO 2020 tournament, with ten players across six nations entering the field of play for their respective sides as they battle it out for the Henri Delaunay Trophy.

With boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer facing some difficult decisions to make this offseason, there’s no better stage for a player to prove their worth than one of football’s biggest tournaments – as Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and David de Gea especially look to impress.

England – Dean Henderson, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford

United’s number 26’s tournament came to an abrupt end just one game into the tournament, withdrawing from the Three Lions squad due to a hip problem that saw the ‘keeper left out of the squad for England’s opening group game against Croatia as a precaution.

Henderson returned to Manchester for assessment and rehabilitation ahead of the new season, as he aims to solidify his place as the Red Devils’ number one ahead of David de Gea.

Luke Shaw has enjoyed a resurgent season at Old Trafford, asserting himself as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs and filling the stat sheet with impressive numbers each game.

After winning United’s Players Player of the Year award, Shaw entered EURO 2020 with the most confidence he’s ever had – displaying exactly that in his two appearances so far.

Recording a clean sheet in both showings against Scotland and the Czech Republic, England’s backline looks to be the team’s surprise strength amid the world’s shining light on Southgate’s final third.

Shaw ended the group stage as England’s leading chance creator with four in just 180 minutes, creating twice as many as the next highest player.

The 25-year-old has been the focal point of England’s left-sided attacks on both occasions with his overlapping runs in behind Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling – providing a much needed option for the Three Lions following flat performances in the final third from Harry Kane and Phil Foden.

Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell is out of action until June 28th under precaution after interacting with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour who returned a positive COVID-19 test, Shaw looks set to start in England’s round of 16 tie on the 29th.

United skipper Harry Maguire made his first appearance on a football pitch since suffering ankle ligament damage in his side’s 3-1 win away at Aston Villa on May 9th.

England’s number six didn’t seem fazed whatsoever by the return and showed exactly what he has done for his club all season, this time alongside noisy neighbour John Stones in a back four.

Maguire played more passes into the final third than any other England player against the Czech Republic with eight, displaying class and composure in his EUROs debut.

England’s build up from the back looked underwhelming in the first two group games without Maguire, but the 28-year-old’s return allowed the team’s most creative outlets to flourish.

Maguire’s presence allowed Jack Grealish to have more freedom further up the field, which in turn led to the England goal as Raheem Sterling nodded home the Aston Villa man’s cross.

As mentioned above, Luke Shaw’s attacking presence is one of England’s biggest strengths despite playing as a full-back, and Maguire’s distribution meant Shaw’s average position of passes was higher compared to the 0-0 draw against Scotland where Shaw had Tyrone Mings to his right.

The boost Maguire gives to Southgate’s side heavily increases the There Lions’ chances of bringing it home this summer, with a round of 16 tie against Germany on the horizon.

The nation’s hero, Marcus Rashford is yet to record a start for England at EURO 2020 amid strong attacking competition from Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling on the left-wing.

The Red Devils won’t mind, however, as keeping Rashford out of action as much as possible decreases the likelihood of re-aggravating a shoulder or ankle injury ahead of the Premier League’s starting date on August 14th when Manchester United take on Leeds.

Coming on as a second-half substitute in each of the three group games, England’s number 11 is yet to record a goal, assist or big chance created – but 20 minute cameos don’t give the 23-year-old much of an opportunity.

Gareth Southgate could also be preserving Rashford until later on in the tournament for vital knockout games to follow, with none of the opponents faced so far giving England anything to worry about.

The player’s agency, D N May Sports Management, revealed it has been ‘two years’ since Rashford has been fully fit – struggling with shoulder and ankle injuries respectively.

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Rashford’s shoulder and ankle injuries ‘should finally be addressed following England’s European Championship campaign’.

The winger could play a vital part as England’s knockout games begin, and Southgate will be relying on his bench options more than ever – learning from mistakes at the World Cup in 2018 where fatigue proved costly in the semi-final exit to Croatia.

The England boss has to use his extensive squad depth to his advantage, which will play a key role if his side are to enjoy sweet success at Wembley on July 11th.

France – Paul Pogba

Once again, Paul Pogba is proving why he is one of the world’s best footballers on the big stage. United fans will forever kick themselves as to why the club have never seen the best version of Pogba like France have.

Les Bleus advanced to the round of 16 and will face Switzerland after a 2-2 draw with Portugal sealed top spot in Group F. In the crucial final group game, Pogba completed 96 out of 99 attempted passes, including nine long passes, created four chances (two of which were deemed ‘big’ chances) and bagged an assist.

France have never lost a game when Pogba and N’Golo Kante have started together (30 games), recording 22 wins and eight draws.

If the key to unlocking Paul Pogba for Manchester United is a world-class defensive midfielder alongside him, the Red Devils shouldn’t be looking any further than Declan Rice this summer.

Defensive midfielders at Manchester United during Pogba’s tenure have included Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic and Fred – none of which complimented the Frenchman’s style of play like Kante does, or were nearly as good as the Chelsea man.

Pogba plays his best football when he’s surrounded with players as good as he is – but when he’s playing with those who aren’t near the level he’s at, he can easily fall into a forgotten category.

A pivotal summer for ‘La Pioche’ lies ahead as he enters the final year of his contract at Old Trafford – with the potential for a move away if Pogba rejects a new contract and United choose to cut their losses and sell to avoid losing the 28-year-old on a free transfer next year.

Man of the Match performances against both Germany and Portugal are setting the tone for what looks to be a very bright tournament to come for both Pogba and France, as they look to repeat international success following the World Cup win in Russia three years ago.

It’s no secret that Paul Pogba is one of the world’s best footballers when he plays for his country, and was held in the same regard when playing for Juventus which earned him the title of world’s most expensive midfielder in 2016 – but why haven’t Manchester United seen this Pogba?

On his day, Pogba is easily one of the most entertaining players to watch on a football pitch – and there’s certainly an argument to be made that he’s the best in the world right now. If United can bring in a defensive midfielder that fits alongside Pogba like Rice or Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi it’s not far fetched to say Solskjaer could be looking at league title number 21.

However, as always, it’s up to the player to decide whether he’s ready for a new challenge elsewhere, or if his club decide to finally pull the trigger after five years and build the team around a world-class talent to fully get the best out of his arsenal.

Pogba’s issues at Old Trafford won’t be solved with the sole signing of a high-level defensive midfielder however. He must show the commitment and effort levels for United that he does for his national side, with supporters growing increasingly frustrated at the player’s occasional negative body language on the pitch. But most of all, his agent. Mino Raiola.

The sooner Pogba’s future is sorted out – the better. Manchester United need to make a decision sooner rather than later, as it isn’t worth longing over what could be a lost cause if what Raiola says is true.

Portugal – Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot

Bruno Fernandes hasn’t quite enjoyed the tournament he would’ve hoped for so far with Portugal, but there’s plenty of time ahead for United’s record breaker to make his mark.

The 26-year-old has averaged just 57 minutes per game across Portugal’s three group fixtures against Hungary, Germany and France – still yet to record a goal contribution for the current tournament holders.

Fernandes was left on the bench for Portugal’s final group game against France, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute – but it’s no surprise he was given a rest. The man is absolutely exhausted.

United’s vice-captain has played 83 games since the Premier League’s restart in June 2020 – and during that period has been given just two days of rest between games on 38 different occasions and three days of rest between games on 19 occasions.

As per The Telegraph’s James Ducker, Fernandes has played more games for club and country this season than any player across Europe’s top five leagues and played the third most minutes.

The best is yet to come for Portugal’s number 11 at EURO 2020.

Diogo Dalot, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at AC Milan, was called up to the Portugal squad after Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo tested positive for COVID-19 just two days before his side’s opening tournament fixture against Hungary.

The 22-year-old made his senior international debut in Portugal’s final group game, a 2-2 draw against France where he played the final 11 minutes after replacing an injured Nelson Semedo.

Whilst United are looking to shop the right-back on a permanent deal this summer, the club are also prepared to hang on to the player for additional squad depth and competition to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier looks to be losing momentum.

AC Milan are interested in taking Dalot back for a second season-long loan with an obligation to buy, but reports suggest United are not currently interested in negotiating a loan for the player despite playing just 11 times during Solskjaer’s first full season as boss at Old Trafford.

A decision on the full-back’s future will come after the tournament’s finish, with the player reportedly open to going out on loan once again or fighting for his place at Manchester United if needed.

Scotland – Scott McTominay

Scotland crashed out of EURO 2020 after a 3-1 loss to Croatia in their final Group D game but showed promising signs throughout, especially in midfield with McTominay, Billy Gilmour and John McGinn the standout performers.

A hard-fought 0-0 draw at Wembley with England saw McTominay combat England’s left-side of Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw with ease, winning 100% of his tackles, completing 82% pass accuracy, alongside four ball recoveries and two interceptions.

Never afraid to put his body on the line, the Lancashire-born man displayed his impressive versatility under Steve Clarke, playing on the right-side of centre-back in two of the three group games.

Standing at 6-foot-4 tall, McTominay offers a mean aerial presence and defensive solidity which is somewhat contrasting to his style of play at Old Trafford, where he’s best getting forward and making himself known in and around the box as a goal threat.

However, the tournament can be seen as a great success for the 24-year-old’s experience on one of the world’s biggest stages and will enjoy a summer of thorough preparation as Manchester United look to take their title charge right to their noisy neighbours.

Sweden – Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof recorded two clean sheets for Sweden against Spain and Slovakia respectively as his side went on to top Group E with seven points from a possible nine.

United’s number two took home UEFA’s ‘Star of the Match’ award in Sweden’s 0-0 opening fixture draw against Spain, recording 100% long pass accuracy, 85% pass accuracy, nine clearances and two blocks.

The defender’s impressive long passing has been a strength exploited by Marcus Rashford for United since his arrival in 2016, able to run in behind the defence and get on the end of looping passes.

A similar solid display came in the Swede’s second group game against Slovakia, as Lindelof completed 100% of dribbles attempted, recorded 92% pass accuracy, won five out of seven duels and tallied four ball recoveries and clearances each.

Despite defensive reinforcements being a prime target for Manchester United to explore this summer, with names like Raphael Varane and Pau Torres tipped as replacements for Lindelof – there’s no reason as to why the 26-year-old can’t be a viable squad option for Solskjaer.

His partnership alongside captain Harry Maguire hasn’t always looked tidy, highlighting the need for a more suitable centre-back – however when taking on the role as one of Sweden’s main men, Lindelof hasn’t looked out of place whatsoever.

Wales – Daniel James, Dylan Levitt

Daniel James has created eight chances at EURO 2020 so far, already more than he managed in 2021 for Manchester United in the Premier League (six).

The tricky winger also leads the European Championships in chances created from set plays (five) and fouls won in the final third (three). Additionally, James ranks third in passes into the box (20).

With yet another tireless and explosive performance against Italy in Wales’ final group game which saw Rob Page’s side qualify for the round of 16 with a second-placed finish in Group A, United’s number 21 received praise from Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini before the game – stating he likes to watch James at Manchester United and how he’s maturing.

Frightening pace isn’t the only weapon in the 23-year-old’s arsenal, with a pass accuracy of 81% and 75% dribble success rate showing he’s not afraid to step up and be one of Wales’ most threatening options in the final third alongside Gareth Bale.

A fantastic squad option for Solskjaer to look to off the bench next season in the closing stages of tight games, Daniel James continues to silence the critics and prove his worth as a vital piece of both his club and country’s setups.

20-year-old Dylan Levitt, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan in Croatia at Istra 1961 made his EURO 2020 debut in a 1-0 loss against Italy, replacing Joe Allen with four minutes to play.

The United youngster faces tough competition to make it into Solskjaer’s first team squad next season, especially with academy talent such as Ethan Galbraith and James Garner breaking through the mould.

Another loan spell looks likely for Levitt as he looks to gain even more vital experience under his belt and eventually fight for his place at Old Trafford amid an already crowded pool of midfield options.

Spain – David de Gea

Manchester United’s number one is yet to make an appearance for Spain so far, remaining as an unused substitute in each group game – playing second fiddle to Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon.

A strong tournament would’ve been the perfect stage for de Gea to prove that he’s still got it in the tank after a bumpy season with United, in which he appeared to lose his spot between the sticks to Dean Henderson.

Solskjaer will make a decision on who to choose as his number one option in goal after the European Championships finish, as reportedly neither de Gea nor Henderson are willing to be a backup.

Absences – Donny van de Beek, Mason Greenwood

Netherlands’ Donny van de Beek was forced to withdraw from Frank de Boer’s squad due to a groin injury before the beginning of the tournament, spelling a disappointing end to a difficult season for the 24-year-old.

After joining United for £40m in August 2020, van de Beek has struggled to find his feet, and in turn game time since making the switch from Ajax. Solskjaer has prioritised the likes of Fernandes, McTominay and Fred ahead of van de Beek – but he won’t be leaving Old Trafford this summer and has vowed to fight for his place.

Mason Greenwood was an expected inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s EURO 2020 squad, but withdrew before the announcement due to an underlying groin injury.

The 19-year-old starlet was selected in England’s provisional 33-man-squad, and was all set for a positive tournament after ending his club season on a high with eight goals in his last 14 appearances.

Despite some initial dismay, the club will be happier than ever to see some of their key players rested over the summer and eliminated from the risk of injury – as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to mount a serious title challenge next season and achieve exactly what his predecessors failed to.