With the Europaean Championships coming to a close, The Independent’s Jack Pitt-Brooke looks at ten players who’s been disappointing.
David Alaba (Austria and Bayern Munich)
David Alaba was one of Pep Guardiola's favourite players at Bayern Munich, because of his tactical intelligence and flexibility, excelling in almost every position on the pitch. Austria tried to build around him in midfield but it did not work, and they had probably the most disappointing tournament of any team in France. Even in Group F, the easiest group, from which Portugal qualified with three points, Austria managed just one draw and two defeats. Alaba just could make the team cohere around himself.
Harry Kane (England and Tottenham Hotspur)
Over the last two seasons for Spurs Harry Kane has made himself the most effective English striker since Wayne Rooney's explosive pomp. He won the Golden Boot this season and nearly won the Premier League title too. But when he arrived in France all those games looked to have caught up with him, and he could not produce the same intensity or drive that he showed for Spurs. As England chased wins against Slovakia and Iceland he looked tired and anxious - although he was certainly not the only one - and England were embarrassingly knocked out.
Arda Turan (Turkey and Barcelona)
It must be difficult to turn down a move to the Nou Camp, but Arda Turan looks like half the player since he left Atletico Madrid for Barcelona last year. Struggling for fitness and rhythm, Turkey's captain could not inspire his side as they crashed out at the first stage. Turkey were dismal in their opening 1-0 defeat to Croatia in Paris, and Turan was hauled off by Fatih Terim after just 65 minutes for Burak Yilmaz. He could do nothing to stop Spain picking Turkey apart and that was that.
Sergio Ramos (Spain and Real Madrid)
Given the responsibility of captaining Spain in the absence of Iker Casillas, Ramos could not rise to the challenge. He missed a crucial penalty against Croatia when Spain were 1-0 up, before the defence he was marshalling collapsed in the final minutes Had he scored Spain would have won Group D and not had to face Italy in the last-16. In that game he was dominated by Graziano Pelle and gave away the needless freekick from which Italy took the lead they never looked like giving up.
Mario Goetze (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Two years ago Joachim Loew threw on Mario Goetze in the World Cup final and told him to prove that he was better than Lionel Messi. Goetze scored the winning goal and ensured his footballing immortality. But since then he has lost all confidence, and he was a passenger up front in Germany's first two games, with none of the movement or finishing demanded in the role. It was only when Mario Gomez, a more conventional striker, replaced him that Germany got their attacking edge back.
Jack Wilshere (England and Arsenal)
With hindsight, it was always optimistic in the extreme for Roy Hodgson to take Jack Wilshere to the European Championship. Hodgson had initially planned to start Wilshere in every game in France, even after a season of just 141 competitive minutes. He had second thoughts, but in Wilshere's three appearances in France he never looked like a player who was fit or sharp enough to turn games England's way. He started against Slovakia and played the second half against Iceland as England floundered around him unable to find their way through.
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium and Chelsea)
It was not a happy tournament for Courtois, who made his thoughts about manager Marc Wilmots very clear in the aftermath of Belgium's quarter-final elimination by Wales. Courtois did not perform at his best level himself, and was beaten by goals that he would normally hope to save in Belgium's two defeats to Wales and Italy. Must hope to rediscover his focus before returning to club duty later this month.
Anthony Martial (France and Manchester United)
Before France opened their campaign against Romania back on 10 June, Didier Deschamps was agonising about whether to pick Dimitri Payet or Anthony Martial on the left of his 4-3-3. He went for Payet and from that point on Martial struggled to get a foothold in this team. He came on that evening, and started France's second match against Albania. But while Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann formed an improving partnership up front, it was Kingsley Coman who became Deschamps' preferred wing option from the bench.
Andrei Yarmolenko (Ukraine and Dynamo Kiev)
Statistically the worst team in the tournament, Ukraine left France with not one single point. Much faith had been put in their two star wingers, Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka, but they were unable to influence any of Ukraine's three group games. The Germany match may have been a write-off but against organised and disciplined Poland and Norrthern Ireland sides, Ukraine were desperately short of ideas and skill, especially from their big stars.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland and Bayern Munich)
It cannot be easy being so obviously the best number nine in Europe, with every defence double marking you everywhere you go. Robert Lewandowski paid a price for his own reputation in France, as he was shackled by almost every defence he faced. Lewandowski scored one goal, in the quarter-final against Portugal, but from five games the Poland side might have expected more from him. He did at least score twice from spot, though, in Poland's two shoot-outs. – The Independent