The Euro 2024 group stage is over, how did the Milan players fare on this third day? With the exception of Luka Jovic with his Serbia, they all qualified for the round of 16. There will be no direct clashes between Milan players, we will lose a couple on Monday not because of the tournament but because of the end of their contracts (Giroud and Kjaer). This is the stock market of the 6 Milan players (+2)
OLIVIER GIROUD
France – Poland 1-1
He enters the field in the 60th minute, shortly after France had found the goal of the temporary lead. As always, he fights for every ball and also takes a few fouls. What he doesn’t take are playable balls. The only one that comes his way comes just before injury time: he breaks away well from his marking and shoots from a good position but the Polish defender sacrifices himself and counters the conclusion. Still dry.
Vote 6
THEO HERNANDEZ
France – Poland 1-1
Full pass mark, almost 6+. Always one of the players most involved in the French maneuver, despite being a full-back: this is also thanks to the closeness on the field with Mbappè and Barcola who often combine with the Milan player. At the start of the game he moves to the far post and only a sensational Skorupski denies him the joy of a goal. In defense he is attentive but up front, in the second half, he is seen a little too little. In any case, one of the few certainties of this France.
Vote 6
JOVIC’S WOUNDS
Denmark – Serbia 0-0
He comes in in the second half and initially has to sacrifice himself a bit, proving useful even if a bit rough even on the flank in the defensive phase. An offside of a few millimetres prevents him from leaving an important mark, building the action of the Danish own goal, which he caused and then cancelled. In the final, great confusion on the pitch and many offensive players for Serbia, but the playable balls are few and the Rossoneri do not have an impact
Vote 6
MIKE MAIGNAN
France – Poland 1-1
To be honest, he wasn’t particularly busy during the match: after the draw, Poland created some dangerous situations but the goalkeeper wasn’t involved. He saves the penalty from Lewandowski but the feints at the limits of regulation by the Polish captain lead him to make an irregular save for Guida: he also guesses the repetition but this time the Barcelona striker is precise.
Vote 6
TIJJANI REIJNDERS
Netherlands – Austria 2-3
Not a bad performance in itself, Reijnders once again demonstrated today that he is one of the most important players at Koeman’s disposal, but the error in the 14th minute is a truly red pencil: the shot went wild inside the heart of the penalty area rigor costs him passing. It was an opportunity to score and Tijjani didn’t respond. However, there were many positive things, such as a brilliant through ball for Malen in the 22nd minute, which however his teammate, placed in front of the goalkeeper, wasted badly. Then with the entry of Xavi Simons the Milan midfielder moves back and moves into midfield, with tasks of managing and moving the ball. He was replaced in the 66th minute by Koeman, who brought on Wijnaldum.
Vote 5.5
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NOT EMPLOYED
SIMON KJAER
Denmark – Serbia 0-0
Zero minutes played in this European Championship for the central defender, who from Monday will officially be a former Milan player. His, in fact, is a non-playing captain role in the Danish team and it is highly unlikely that he will be on the pitch on Saturday against Germany.
RAFA LEAO
Georgia – Portugal 2-0
Disqualified for warnings, both for simulation. A European so far of lights and shadows for the AC Milan player who in the second match, against Turkey, had done better than in his debut, so much so that he started the action to score the 1-0 goal. Of course, these carelessness could cost him dearly and also the fact that Roberto Martinez took him away in the 45th minute against the Turks is a warning ahead of the round of 16. Will we see him on the pitch from the first minute? Of course, whoever replaced him against Georgia (Joao Félix) didn’t particularly shine. Next match Monday 1st July against Slovenia.
NOAH OKAFOR
Switzerland – Germany 1-1
Zero minutes played for the Milan striker, a non-paying spectator of the performances of his teammates in the red and blues. With results that prove coach Murat Yakin right. The reality is that in the 3-4-2-1 Yakin struggles to design a role for him. There are no attacking wingers and he would be one, there is no second striker, a role that Yakin would see for Okafor. It could be a solution to break the game during the match, but in these European Championships Switzerland has never found itself in the position of having to change register. And for the record, all the players who were preferred to him have done well, from Ndoye to Vargas, from Duah to Embolo.
