Several Spain-based stars are expected to shine in the upcoming tournament, which will take place in Germany from June 14th to July 14th.
MUMBAI: The 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season is over and numerous players who ply their trade on Spanish soil are now gearing up for the upcoming 2024 European Championship, which is set to take place in Germany from June 14th to July 14th. This highly anticipated tournament will kick off on Friday with the opener between hosts Germany and Scotland, a game that will feature Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who has returned to international action three years after announcing his retirement from the national team in the wake of Germany’s exit in Euro 2020.
Kroos is just one of the many LALIGA EA SPORTS players expected to steal the limelight at Euro 2024. Here comes a look at five other players worth watching when the competition gets up and running.
Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona & Spain): The prodigy who could light up his first tournament
Having recorded as many as 50 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24, Lamine Yamal had a breakout year and smashed several records on his way to becoming an undisputed starter at FC Barcelona, such as becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in LALIGA EA SPORTS history.
Moreover, he has also made history with Spain by becoming the youngest debutant and goalscorer in La Roja’s history, playing and scoring in a game against Georgia when he was just 16 years and 57 days old.
Expected to start in Luis de la Fuente’s line-up, Lamine Yamal is preparing for his first international tournament and will hope to help Spain emerge through a challenging Group B, which also features reigning champions Italy, Croatia – captained by Real Madrid veteran Luka Modrić – and Albania.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid & England): The Player of the Season hopes for a triumphant summer
After taking LALIGA EA SPORTS by storm and leading Real Madrid to the 2023/24 title, Jude Bellingham will now look to inspire the Three Lions to their first-ever European Championship trophy. The midfielder joined Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund last summer and, in his first season with the Spanish team, he celebrated both the domestic league and Champions League titles, having recorded 23 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
England is one of the favorites to win this tournament, given that they reached the final last time when they lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley. Bellingham didn’t play in that final, so his presence could be the X-factor this time around.
Gareth Southgate’s team is in a Group C that also features Slovenia, Serbia, and Denmark, and they’ll be hoping to go far in the tournament, aware that Bellingham is in great form and travels to Germany as a Spanish and European champion.
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia CF & Georgia): The hero of the European Championship debutants
Giorgi Mamardashvili not only had an excellent season with Valencia CF, but he also kept two clean sheets in the playoff games against Luxembourg and Greece to help Georgia clinch their first-ever European Championship participation. After defeating the former 2-0, Georgia drew 0-0 against the Greek national team, with the game going to a penalty shootout. There, it was time for Mamardashvili to shine again, with the Valencia CF shot-stopper denying Greece captain Anastasios Bakasetas to send fans at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi into a frenzy.
Georgia’s task to qualify for the Euro 2024 knockout stage will be anything but easy, as they will have to face Turkey, Portugal and Czechia, but Mamardashvili – who finished sixth in the rankings for the Zamora Trophy in LALIGA EA SPORTS in 2023/24 – will be tough to beat for all opponents he comes up against.
Artem Dovbyk (Girona FC & Ukraine): The Pichichi wants more goals
Having netted 24 goals in 36 LALIGA EA SPORTS appearances, Artem Dovbyk became the first Girona FC and first Ukrainian player to ever win the Pichichi prize, awarded to the top goalscorer each LALIGA EA SPORTS season. The Girona FC striker became the first player who doesn’t play for either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona to win the accolade since 2008/09 when Atlético de Madrid striker Diego Forlán earned the award.
He was instrumental to Girona FC’s incredible season, in which the underdogs finished third and secured a maiden ticket for the Champions League. Now, Dovbyk will look to punish opposition defenses in Euro 2024 and he’ll aim to spearhead another Cinderella story, starting with his team’s Group E matches against Romania, Slovakia, and Belgium.
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid & France): A look at Real Madrid’s new star
Real Madrid fans will have the opportunity to watch their new signing in action this summer, as Kylian Mbappé will captain France at Euro 2024. The striker is set to join Real Madrid after the tournament, with Los Blancos officially announcing his arrival just a few days after winning their 15th Champions League trophy.
After leading France to FIFA World Cup glory in 2018, Mbappé netted a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, who won the trophy on penalties. He hasn’t yet won the European Championship but hopes to inspire Les Blues to what would be the third success in this competition in their history. But, to do so, France will first need to get through a tough Group D featuring Poland, Austria, and the Netherlands.
Mbappé will be keen to put on a show, aware that even more attention is on him than ever before, and he’ll be accompanied by several other LALIGA EA SPORTS stars, such as Barça defender Jules Koundé, Atleti forward Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid players Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
