Here are five footballers who shined bright in the first round of Uefa Euro 2020. The quintet weren't regular fixtures in the national side previously, but have now enhanced their reputation a great deal through assured performances.
Manuel Locatelli (Italy)
Marco Verratti's injury loss was Locatelli's gain as the Sassuolo midfielder sparkled with two goals in two starts in the group stage. PSG's Verratti is usually ahead in the Italian midfield pecking order but injury doubts saw head coach Roberto Mancini opt for Locatelli in the first two games, 3-0 wins over Turkey and Switzerland. The 23-year old Locatelli grabbed a brace in the Swiss clash, linking up well with club team mate Domenico Berardi on the right.
Robin Gosens (Germany)
After his Germany debut late last year, the 26-year old has finally arrived in the big stage, making the left midfield position his own with some breathtaking performances in the group phase. Gosens, also comfortable playing at left-back for Atalanta, scored once and registered two assists against Portugal, landing the player of the match award. The only player in Germany's squad who has never played in the Bundesliga, Gosens had the final laugh over Juventus' Ronaldo, who once rejected exchanging jerseys with him in the Serie A.
Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
The 25-year old plays as a right back for PSV Eindhoven, but Dutch head coach Frank de Boer deployed him in an advanced right wing back position, and Dumfries has excelled, scoring one each in the first two matches against the Ukraine and Austria. One of the standout performers of Euro 2020, Dumfries previously played for the Aruba national team, before switching allegiance to the Netherlands. That no one else has attempted more pressures in the final third than the Dutch in this tournament is largely down to Dumfries' relentless runs through the wings.
Kalvin Phillips (England)
England might have become the only team in Euros history to score only two goals and top a group, but defensive midfielder Phillips has not put a foot wrong, playing all three group games, and standing out as one of the Three Lions' few brightest spots. The Leeds United academy graduate's sublime assist against Croatia made him a household name back in the UK. Marcelo Bielsa's arrival at Leeds saw Phillips transform into a classical No 4 box-to-box midfielder and from Elland Road to Wembley, Phillips' journey has been impressive.
Pedri (Spain)
The Euros has been nothing short of spectacular for the young Barcelona midfielder. Pedri at 18 became the youngest ever Spaniard to play at the European Championship in their opening match against Sweden, where he belied his age by putting in a man of the match display. He was once again Spain's star man in the second game against Poland, with the best passing accuracy among his teammates. Among the players who have attempted the most passes in the final third, Pedri registered another superlative performance against Slovakia in the 5-0 win.
