With Euro 2016 kicking off in a little over a week, fans are understandably excited for the summer tournament's beginning. The hopes of nations are resting on a number of key players coming into France 2016 and with that in mind, we at WhoScored pick out five players whose form has picked up at just the right time. For the purpose of the article, we look at players to have made five or more league appearances across Europe’s top five leagues since the start of April.
5) Gareth Bale - Wales (WhoScored Rating 8.14)
Wales have a number of key performers in their squad, with the chemistry instilled by Chris Coleman high, but no player is more important in their quest to progress than Gareth Bale. The 26-year-old’s season only ended on Saturday when Real Madrid secured Champions League glory at the expense of rivals Atletico Madrid, yet continental success is likely to drive Bale on. The former Tottenham star enjoyed his most prolific goalscoring campaign to date, netting 19 times for Real Madrid, including four in his last four league appearances of a grueling campaign.
Often handed a free role under Coleman, Wales’ progression from Group B rests largely on whether he performs to the best of his ability. However, as his rating since the beginning of April suggests (8.14), Bale is approaching Euro 2016 in top form in what is a real boost for the Dragons.
4) Paul Pogba - France (8.45)
Paul Pogba ended the season as Serie A’s highest rated player, with a rating of 7.81, yet he stepped his game up further in the dying weeks of the domestic campaign, gaining a WhoScored rating of 8.45 between April and the season’s culmination. The youngster earned rave reviews for his performance in the 3-2 win over Cameroon on Monday night, providing a sumptuous assist for Olivier Giroud’s goal in the hard-fought victory.
The 23-year-old was excellent from April onwards, with two of his eight goals and five of his 12 assists coming in his final seven appearances of the campaign. France is a nation not lacking in talent, but there chances of international success increase significantly if Pogba can transfer his club form to country.
3) Eden Hazard - Belgium (8.45)
While this was hardly a memorable season for Eden Hazard, he stepped his game up as the campaign came to a head. Promoted to captain by Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots in the wake of Vincent Kompany’s calf injury, the pressure on the Chelsea star increases significantly. However, now over the injury problems that plagued his campaign, Hazard looks to be rediscovering his best form at just the right time for the Red Devils.
His four Premier League goals this term were scored between April and the end of the campaign, with Hazard winning three WhoScored man of the match awards in his last five top-flight appearances. Now fully fit and firing on all cylinders, the 25-year-old has what it takes to take the tournament by storm, a necessity given the ongoing defensive issues in the Belgium squad.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal (8.60)
Despite his best attempts to land the Pichichi, Cristiano Ronaldo ultimately fell five goals short in his efforts to finish the campaign as La Liga’s top goalscorer. It was not for want of trying, however, with Ronaldo netting seven goals between the start of April and the end of the season, including the winner in Real Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico win at Camp Nou. Portugal’s hopes of success rest largely on Ronaldo’s shoulders, given their lacklustre offensive options.
Portugal have a relatively easy group to navigate having been drawn alongside Hungary, Iceland and Austria in Group F and should progress to the next round with consummate ease. The opening fixtures, therefore, will be the ideal opportunity for Ronaldo to build up a head of steam and continue his excellent goalscoring form at Euro 2016.
1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Sweden (9.20)
Despite being the wrong side of 30, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shown no signs that his performance are on the wane. Only Luis Suarez (14) scored more goals than Ibrahimovic (11) between April and end of the season to contribute to his 38 for the campaign. His inspiring outings as PSG’s lead attacker helped return a superb WhoScored rating of 9.20, which will come as a boost to a Sweden side hoping to navigate arguably the Group of Death at Euro 2016.
Sweden face Italy, Belgium and Republic of Ireland in France next month and it’s fair to say that beyond Ibrahimovic, the Blue-Yellow are hardly inundated with talent. Fortunately, the now-former PSG star and Sweden captain comes into the competition in fine form. Indeed, he will need to maintain his excellent goalscoring performances for Sweden in order to secure a place in the next round.
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