Ranking Chelsea's Players on Their Performances at Euro 2016
The 2016 UEFA European Championship is over. Portugal are champions, and those players who competed for the 24 nations are now on holiday, recharging their batteries ahead of the 2016/17 season.
Chelsea had six players on international duty in France this summer—seven if we're including recent signing Michy Batshuayi—while new manager Antonio Conte was also present with Italy.
With his animated reactions on the touchline—not to mention Italy's impressive performances—Conte stole the show at times. The manager showed his mettle and tactical nous to give Chelsea fans something to look forward to now that the new campaign is rapidly approaching.
But how did Chelsea's players perform? Join Bleacher Report as we rank all six who featured at Euro 2016.
6. Cesar Azpilicueta
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Cesar Azpilicueta only featured once for Spain at Euro 2016—that appearance coming during his country's second group game against Turkey.
The Spanish won that comfortably 3-0, with Alvaro Morata scoring twice and Nolito also finding himself on the scoresheet, his strike sandwiched between Morata's brace.
Azpilicueta's Euro was unfamiliar territory for him. Normally a regular with Chelsea, he played a supporting role for Vicente del Bosque's side, being forced out of the side by Barcelona's Jordi Alba at left-back.
When Azpiliceta did eventually feature against Turkey, it was as a late substitute for Alba. Coming on in the 81st minute, he helped the side see the game out.
He wouldn't feature in the 2-1 loss to Croatia on Matchday 3, while he was again an unused substitute when Spain crashed out of the competition to Antonio Conte's Italy in the last 16.
With just 10 minutes of action, it wasn't the most productive of summers for Azpilicueta.
5. Pedro
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Like Azpilicueta, Pedro didn't enjoy a productive Euro 2016.
There were question marks over his inclusion in the Spain squad even before the tournament kicked off, and Pedro would only make two appearances, coming off the bench twice.
On both occasions—first against the Czech Republic on Matchday 1, then Italy in the last 16—it wasn't until the final 10 minutes that Del Bosque opted to introduce Pedro to the action.
He helped Spain overcome plucky opponents in the Czechs, but the game was up against Italy. Antonio Conte's side had snuffed out Spain's threat all game and were leading 1-0 at the time.
With the likes of Pedro added to give more presence in the final third, it meant Italy were able to break away and kill the game off through Graziano Pelle's late goal.
Like his debut campaign with Chelsea, Euro 2016 wasn't one to remember for Pedro.
4. Gary Cahill
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There's a trend already forming here. For Chelsea's players at least, Euro 2016 didn't give them many memories they will cherish.
Whereas Azpilicueta and Pedro were back-up players for a struggling Spain side, Gary Cahill was at the heart of an England team that crashed out early in another international competition.
England's failure came as a team. They dominated all four games they played but still struggled to make their superiority count, drawing with Russia and Slovakia in the group stages.
They did beat Wales 2-1, but a last-16 defeat to minnows Iceland capped off another disappointing summer for the English.
Where England failed to score goals at one end, they conceded them at the other. England scored four in four games, conceding the same number. Cahill was a part of that leaky defence, so he more than played a role in his country's failures.
He'll be glad to get back to pre-season with Chelsea and forget about the heartache of France.
3. Cesc Fabregas
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Cesc Fabregas played in all four of Spain's Euro 2016 matches but struggled to make the sort of impact he would have hoped.
Wearing the No. 10 jersey, Fabregas was supposed to be the schemer in midfield for his country alongside former Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta. It didn't quite happen like that, though.
Spain came up against teams who were content to sit back against them and kill their influence in the final third. Czech Republic did that on Matchday 1, almost claiming a goalless draw for their efforts.
Against Turkey, we saw a more fluid Spanish side that won 3-0, but against Croatia and Italy, they struggled.
Fabregas was part of those struggles. He struggles most when teams play a tight midfield and give little space in central areas. Without that room to express himself, Fabregas can't influence games, and we saw that again in the Euros.
If not for the failures of his other Chelsea teammates, he would have ranked lower in our list.
The hope for Chelsea fans is that Conte finds a formula to get the best out of Fabregas in the coming season. When on form, he's exceptional. But when snuffed out, he proves more of a hindrance on teams.
2. Eden Hazard
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Belgium fans really hoped they would see the best from Eden Hazard this summer. After struggling throughout much of 2015/16 in Chelsea colours, he rediscovered something resembling his best at the back end of the campaign.
The prediction from many was that would extend into Euro 2016, but we only saw it fleetingly.
On Matchday 1, Hazard was snuffed out by his new manager Antonio Conte as Italy won the game 2-0. The Italians set up to stop him playing and got the desired outcome, with Hazard and the rest of his Belgian teammates failing to impress.
Things improved against the Republic of Ireland as Belgium came out 3-0 winners, while Hazard was part of the side that ground out a 1-0 victory over Sweden to secure second spot in their group.
When Belgium faced Hungary in the last 16, Hazard came to life. Not only did he score a wonderful solo goal—his first for Belgium in an international tournament—Hazard assisted new Chelsea teammate Michy Batshuayi to help record an emphatic 4-0 win.
He was the catalyst that night, but then facing Wales in the quarter-final, he was overshadowed by the Welsh. Hazard wasn't as influential, and the Red Devils struggled without him, eventually being knocked out after a 3-1 defeat.
Not progressing beyond the quarters was a massive failure for a Belgian side tipped as favourites heading into Euro 2016.
1. Thibaut Courtois
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It says plenty about the performances of Chelsea's players at Euro 2016 that Thibaut Courtois—a goalkeeper—comes out as No. 1 in this list. Indeed, it says just as much about how Belgium performed in France.
Courtois held up his reputation at the Euros, pulling off a string of fine saves in each of Belgium's five outings. The opening defeat to Italy could have been worse had Courtois not denied a rampant Azzurri side, while he also produced the goods against Wales in the quarter-finals.
It's no exaggeration to say Belgium got off lightly with the game finishing just 3-1. Courtois may have been beaten on three occasions, but he was also on hand to deny Neil Taylor from close range in the first half.
At that stage, Courtois was keeping Belgium in front, but it was a lack of belief from those players in front of him that eventually allowed the Welsh back into the game before they went on to win it.
Courtois didn't enjoy the best season for Chelsea leading into the Euros, but as the Red Devils saw their stock tumble, Courtois' went the other way.
If anything, he restored his reputation.
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