The second day of Euro 2024 has ended and it’s time to take stock of how the Milan fans involved in the tournament fared. 8 players who are formally part of the squad until June 30th, but among them there are also Simon Kjaer and Olivier Giroud whose separation is already official. As on the first day, they play from 1′ to 4, two substitutes, two players who do not take the field.
THE PROMOTED
LUKA JOVIC
Slovenia – Serbia 1-1
It seems like any other bad match for Milan this season: Serbia is in difficulty and needs a goal to revive their European Championship. Luka Jovic came on in the 64th and Slovenia scored shortly after. He touches very few balls, only 7, but the last one is the decisive one: as with Milan, Luka is ready and in the 96th minute, on the last occasion, he scores with his head from a corner and keeps the tournament alive Serbian. Super sub.
Rating 8
MIKE MAIGNAN
Holland – France 0-0
Miraculous several times, the Rossoneri super goalkeeper was able to withstand the Netherlands’ attacks especially with two great saves in the first half (the first on Frimpong after a few seconds of the match). In the second half of the game he was also able to block a shot from Gakpo with his feet, which was returned into the net by Simons but canceled out due to an offside by Dumfries. For now, an excellent start to the European Championship for Mike Maignan, who is increasingly the leader of the French national team.
Rating 7
TIJJANI REIJNDERS
Holland – France 0-0
Good game for Tiji, protagonist in the first half and of several important defensive closures but always with the same class and elegance once he won the ball. He played the whole match, never shuts down and even in the second half he was able to dictate the pace and fit perfectly into the Orange tactical scheme: he is clearly one of the fittest players of this European Championship.
Rating 6.5
OLIVIER GIROUD
Holland – France 0-0
Now close to the MLS, it was a not particularly exciting evening for the French striker. He enters the field for Thuram, is good at acting as a support twice for Rabiot, with some simple support and nothing more. The vote is positive for commitment and management of ball possession, but without Kylian Mbappé the French are really struggling to score at the moment.
Rating 6
THEO HERNANDEZ
Holland – France 0-0
Definitely a positive test for the Rossoneri full-back, no mistakes at the back, some “bucking”. In an offensive way but without making an impact. Everyone expected the duel with Dumfries, but this evening’s match confirmed the AC Milan player’s balance in such difficult matches and with his France not the protagonists of a brilliant performance. Overall, a sufficient performance for Theo.
Rating 6
– – –
NOT JUDGEABLE
SIMON KJAER
Denmark – England 1-1
He didn’t take the field, watching his teammates stop one of the big favorites like England. The feeling is that the defender in this edition of the tournament, his third European Championship, will be more of a non-playing captain than a member at Kasper Hjulmand’s disposal. And in fact we have zero minutes played.
NOAH OKAFOR
Scotland – Switzerland 1-1
Watch his team snatch a draw with Scotland which equates to a foot and a half in the round of 16. Still zero minutes for the AC Milan player in these European Championships. In the days preceding the match, coach Murat Yakin had bitterly highlighted the limited playing time that the Rossoneri gave him, adding: “I don’t see him much as a number 9 who has to play with his back to goal. He gives his best when he starts from ‘outside and centralizes, his speed is enhanced when he has space in front of him. At the moment he lacks a bit of timing in his movements, some mechanisms need to be oiled.”
– – –
FAILED
RAFA LEAO
Türkiye – Portugal
Of esteem, especially because Portugal with him on the pitch effectively closes the practical match, qualification and first place. And because after all he had a hand in the first goal by initiating the action that would then lead to Bernardo Silva’s goal. But in fact it cannot be said that he repays in the best way the trust given to him, once again from the 1st minute, by Roberto Martinez. A few numbers but overall a distracted performance and with the aggravating circumstance of another warning for simulation: once again the referee falls for it, the referee doesn’t fall for it. Two matches, two yellows for the same reason and a one-match disqualification. Luckily for him the match has no value except for the statistics. Unfortunately for him, Roberto Martinez may have quality alternatives at his disposal and if this is his attitude it is not certain that he will find himself a starter in the round of 16. Meanwhile, the substitution suffered in the 45th minute is already a good warning.
Rating 5.5
. Jovic super sub, Leao doesn’t take off){kind=link}