Euro 2016 success stories worthy of another chance to impress

A major international tournament always serves as an opportunity for players to thrust themselves into the limelight from the shadows. Whether a player emerges from apparent obscurity or reignites a profile that has looked in danger if flickering out altogether, there’s no chance to secure a brighter future at club level in the game quite like it.

Consequently, we’ve compiled a shortlist of Euro 2016 players that may well have earned themselves a move this summer, with many selected here certainly in need of one…

Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland)

Without a club having allowed his contract at Hamilton Academical to run, there are a number of suitors both north and south of the border thought to be interested in securing Michael McGovern's signature. If the performances at Euro 2016 were a true indicator of McGovern’s ability then it’s little wonder he is sought after all of a sudden, having effectively secured Northern Ireland’s place in the round of 16 on goal difference with a superb showing in their final group game with Germany, keeping the score down to 1-0 having produced 8 saves - 50% of his total at the tournament. At 32 he’s no spring chicken but also has plenty of years in him to be a real asset at club level, as well as international.

James Chester (Wales)

Many raised an eyebrow or two when West Brom splashed close to £10m on James Chester last summer, with Tony Pulis seemingly as unconvinced as many of the fans. The Wales international started just 9 league games for the Baggies, and none in his favoured centre-back berth. 

Chris Coleman has shown unwavering faith in the former Hull defender regardless, and while Pulis would likely point to the fact that it was Chester beaten in the air by Cristiano Ronaldo in the semi-finals as vindication as to his apparent disliking to the 27-year old in that position, the Welshman was superb in France. He completed at least 8 more tackles and interceptions combined than any other player (36) and while West Brom will see that as a reason to demand most if not all of the money back that they paid for the defender, he’s proven more than capable of performing at a high level in order to earn a move.

Andreas Granqvist (Sweden)

While his nation were pretty woeful this summer - and one of only two teams without a single Euro 2016 goalscorer in their midst - Andreas Granqvist was key to Sweden’s respectable solidity at the back. Recently appointed captain of the side following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement, the lanky centre-back has gone from strength-to-strength since an unproductive stint at Wigan as a a 22-year old in 2007, making 55 international appearances. 

Now 31, Granqvist is still at the top of his game and enjoyed an excellent season to lead FC Krasnodar to fourth in the Russian Premier League last time out, carrying that form into the Euros. Ranking among the top five players in terms of aerial duels won (5.7) and clearances (9.3) per game at the tournament, the Swede may well be deserving of another shot at a club in Europe’s top leagues.

Joe Allen (Wales)

Seemingly now a surprise target for a number of clubs in La Liga, it’s been quite a summer for Joe Allen. While many appreciate what he does offer to Liverpool, the former Swansea man has always been something of a joke figure to many that tarred him with the brush of merely being Brendan Rodgers’ pet project. Ever since the former Reds boss quipped that Allen was the Welsh Xavi, he hasn’t really been taken seriously. 

Perhaps an appearance in UEFA’s Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament will change all that, though it seems unlikely and a move abroad could be just what the 26-year old needs. He could never be accused of lacking desire and commitment but appeared to be supercharged and super-pumped for Wales this summer. Averages of 2.3 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and 1.2 dribbles per game don’t tell the whole story of just how impressive Allen was for the semi-finalists.

Emanuele Giaccherini (Italy)

OK, I admit it, when it was confirmed following a number of unfortunate injuries that Emanuele Giaccherini would line up in midfield for Italy this summer, I wrote the Azzurri off entirely. However, while Antonio Conte wasn’t quite able to mastermind a victory over Germany in the quarter-finals, the Italians certainly exceeded expectations, and Giaccherini epitomised that. 

It was he who got the ball rolling for Conte’s men this summer with a superbly taken goal in an equally superb win over Belgium and yet another strong showing in the round of 16 against Spain - registering an assist for Graziano Pelle’s late goal - more than vindicated his selection, not only in the squad but the starting XI. While he’d proven a very useful player to have at Juventus, a thoroughly disappointing season with Sunderland saw his stock fall significantly. 

Having scored 7 goals on loan at Bologna last season, Giaccherini has returned to Wearside and it will be interesting to see whether Big Sam has a place for a player that, traditionally, would appear to be of his liking. A move to Chelsea and reunion with Conte has already been touted, and what a turnaround that would be for a player that couldn’t get into a struggling Sunderland side 18 months ago.

Jakub Blaszczkowski (Poland)

Having become a firm favourite at Borussia Dortmund, and indeed of Jurgen Klopp as Die Schwarzgelben successfully secured back-to-back Bundesliga titles between 2010 and 2012, the man simply known as ‘Kuba’ has seen his star fall substantially. A number of injuries in recent years led to him losing not only his international captaincy but even his place in the Poland side at times, but he shone for Adam Nawalka’s side this summer, with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.66 ranking tenth of all players to make more than 3 appearances.

His form was somewhat unexpected after an underwhelming season on loan at Fiorentina, starting just 9 Serie A matches, but having returned to Dortmund the 30-year old is likely to have his share of suitors after an excellent showing in France. Not blessed with the searing pace he once was, the winger has tailored his game to become more industrious and though his two goals and assist will immediately stand out from this summer, the fact that he made more tackles than any other player despite starting just four of Poland’s five matches is remarkable (20).

Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales)

With Wales entering the tournament with a man that scored just 3 league goals last season, from 28 appearances, it’s fair to say that few predicted they would trouble the latter stages of Euro 2016 beyond perhaps a brave round of 16 exit. That man was Hal Robson-Kanu, who, while possessing the physical tools to trouble the very best of defenders, has never come good on his potential, failing to match his enviable strength and pace with technical ability and composure.

That, at least, was until he channelled his inner Johan Cruyff in a memorable quarter-final win over Belgium to conjure a moment that won’t only go down in Wales’ history but the European Championship's as a whole. One moment of genius by no means renders Robson-Kanu a superstar - far from it - but if he can build on the confidence he has gained this summer having been released by Reading after scoring 8 goals across three Championship seasons then links with a move to the Premier League could yet be justified. It’s impossible to predict that that turn will prove a turning point in the forward’s career but this promises to be his real shot to prove himself after an ultimately disappointing career to that point.

Which of these players is most deserving of a move this summer? Let us know in the comments below