City’s Euro 2024 story: Team-by-team review | OneFootball

14 City stars have played their part in a memorable summer of football at Euro 2024.

We were the most represented club at the tournament, with our players spread across seven of the 24 teams.

Four of those players made it all the way to the final, with Rodrigo helping Spain be crowned European Champions for a record fourth time at the expense of England trio Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden.

As the tournament draws to a close, we take a look at each team with a City player…

Winner

Spain – Rodrigo

Just like at City, Rodrigo is the beating heart of this Spain team. While others may have grabbed the headlines on their run to the final, none of it would have been possible without our man doing what he does best.

All City fans know there is no one who dominates the centre of the pitch quite like our man.

Only Aymeric Laporte completed more passes for Spain across the tournament, and that's despite missing the final group game due to picking up bookings in both of the first two matches, as well as the second half of the final.

He’s also recovered the ball 33 times, which is more than all but one other midfielder.

As with Pep Guardiola, it’s hard to see Luis de la Fuente picking a side for an important game that doesn’t include the midfield metronome.

England – Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker

Foden, Stones and Walker were all integral to Gareth Southgate’s plans throughout the summer, with each man starting every game.

Stones and Walker have been on the pitch for every single minute of England’s tournament, while Foden has been replaced on a couple of occasions as they chase goals in the closing stages.

WATCH: 2023/24 season highlights: Phil Foden

Stones has been at his imperious best at the heart of the defence, whether that’s in a back three or a back four. With 526 passes completed, no-one has found a team-mate more often than our defender.

That formation shift means Walker has had to be adaptable, defensively astute and a willing foil for Bukayo Saka ahead of him.

Foden’s position has also changed throughout the tournament, with our Academy graduate starting out on the left and tucking into the middle, where he was at his deadliest for City in a 2023/24 season filled with personal accolades, in the knockout stage.

Semi-finalists

Netherlands – Nathan Ake

Ronald Koeman’s side enjoyed a strong run to the final four, and Ake was first choice at left back throughout.

Playing with a conventional back four, Ake’s incredibly reliable defensive skills contributed to Netherlands being tough to play through.

He was also able to join in going forward, especially in their tournament opener against Poland. Ake got both assists in that game as Netherlands won 2-1.

WATCH: 2023/24 season highlights: Nathan Ake

Quarter-finalists

Portugal – Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Joao Cancelo

Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva were two of Roberto Martinez’s most trusted lieutenants as they came within a penalty shootout victory of a semi-final clash with neighbours Spain.

Dias was his usual watchful self out of possession and busy in possession, playing 376 passes in just four games.

Bernardo also played four games, with Portugal resting players in the final group game. Our playmaker scored his nation’s opener in the 3-0 rout of Turkey, smashing home at the back post in a move somewhat reminiscent of his strike in the FA Cup semi-final win over Chelsea in April.

Joao Cancelo also played four times, while Matheus Nunes was a late substitute twice.

WATCH: 2023/24 season highlights: Bernardo Silva

Switzerland – Manuel Akanji

Akanji looked every bit the Rolls Royce defender he has been under Pep Guardiola.

The centre-back played every single minute for Switzerland as they came excruciatingly close to a semi-final berth.

He completed 302 passes in total, while recovering 37 balls in total made him the fifth busiest player out of possession at the competition.

Forever assured, Akanji was the model of consistency for his team and a rock at the back. It was only a shame for him that he couldn’t convert his penalty in the quarter-final shootout with England.

Round of 16

Belgium – Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku

Belgium’s two key creative forces worked hard to create openings for their team but were unfortunate in seeing many of them spurned.

Doku dribbled more than anyone else at the tournament, taking on his opponent 34 times in total.

De Bruyne’s key contribution came with the second goal in the 2-0 win over Romania, latching on to a route one ball through the middle of the defence and poking home ahead of the goalkeeper.

In the end, a late Jan Vertonghen own goal in the even Round of 16 tie with France saw them head home.

WATCH: 2023/24 season highlights: Kevin De Bruyne

Group stage

Croatia – Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol

A late, late Italy equaliser in the final group game saw Croatia end with two points and therefore they were one of the two third placed sides who didn’t go through.

While the 2018 World Cup finalists and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists will be disappointed, they can be buoyed by the showing of Gvardiol.

At just 22, he appeared a leader for this team. Physically, he was capable of covering a lot of the pitch in both an attacking and defensive sense.

Kovacic started all three games and, as expected, was tidy in possession and combative out of it.