Ranking Atletico Madrid's Players on Their Performances at Euro 2016
For a club that has enjoyed significant success in European football in recent years, Atletico Madrid didn't feel sufficiently represented at Euro 2016.
Though Antoine Griezmann was the tournament's standout with France, and though Juanfran was a regular for Spain, the rest of the normally impressive Atleti contingent struggled for prominence: Yannick Carrasco was outshone by others in the Belgium setup; Koke couldn't get a look in with La Roja; and new signing Sime Vrsaljko was a secondary option for Croatia.
Other Atletico players might also consider themselves unlucky not to have gone to France at all. Indeed, Saul Niguez in particular made a very strong case for inclusion into Vicente del Bosque's Spain squad in the second half of the 2015-16 season but was left out. Fernando Torres and Gabi were two more whose domestic performances would have justified selection.
Thus, Griezmann aside, it was a low-key tournament from an Atletico perspective—not that the club will mind.
Here, then, we take a closer look at each man's performances in France now that Euro 2016 has concluded and rank the players accordingly.
5. Koke
1 of 5
Euro 2016 will have been a frustrating tournament for Koke.
Despite having been used regularly by manager Del Bosque during qualifying, and on the back of a strong late-season surge with Atletico Madrid, the midfielder spent his time in France watching on from the bench as Cesc Fabregas was preferred in the third midfield slot.
Only against Turkey did Koke see any playing time, when he was brought on for the final 19 minutes with the result already decided.
In that very brief time, though, the Diego Simeone favourite showed what he can offer La Roja. As his team-mates slowed around him, Koke pressed Turkey's midfielders with unwavering energy and provided fast, direct balls to striker Alvaro Morata on the few occasions he won possession.
4. Sime Vrsaljko
2 of 5
Vrsaljko is one of three new players already signed by Atletico Madrid this summer as the club looks to add strength in depth, and Atleti fans were able to briefly see him in action against Spain at Euro 2016.
Though a right-back by trade—Bleacher Report's Karl Matchett provides a comprehensive look at what Vrsaljko will bring to the Atletico defence right here—the man signed from Sassuolo appeared at left-back against La Roja in place of Ivan Strinic as manager Ante Cacic rotated his squad.
Early in that match, the 24-year-old was caught out of his position when Fabregas and David Silva cut Croatia open down his flank to create Morata's opener. He also conceded the foul on Silva that led to the penalty that was missed by Sergio Ramos, though admittedly the call was very harsh.
But Vrsaljko did redeem himself in the final minute, when he desperately cleared Silva's last-ditch attempt off the line.
3. Yannick Carrasco
3 of 5
Following on from his storming second-half performance in the final of the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid, Carrasco was expected by many to light up Euro 2016.
But the winger never really got going in France.
Amid the curiously rigid approach taken by Belgium manager Marc Wilmots, Carrasco was left out of the starting lineup in his nation's opener against Italy and spent the remainder of the tournament sharing time with Marouane Fellaini and Dries Martens depending on what shape and dynamic Wilmots was after.
In that restricted playing time, the former Monaco star wasn't able to replicate the impactful bursts that made him so dangerous at the Vicente Calderon in 2015-16—on the three occasions he did start, he was the first man subbed after low-key showings—and was comfortably outplayed by Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne in the Belgium attack.
2. Juanfran
4 of 5
In a manner akin to Jordi Alba on the other side of the Spain back four, Juanfran saw the curve of his performances at Euro 2016 closely match that of his team.
To open the tournament, the Atletico Madrid full-back formed a potent right-sided partnership with Silva against the Czech Republic and was responsible for a number of chances created in the opening half of that contest.
He was similarly influential in Spain's early blitz of Turkey at the Stade de Nice, with his ability to get beyond the opposition's defensive line proving key.
From there, however, a palpable sense of fatigue seemed to cripple Juanfran.
Against Croatia, his surging runs slowed significantly as the game progressed, and he was caught badly upfield late on when Ivan Perisic stormed the other way to score and push Spain into the daunting half of the draw.
The veteran was then overwhelmed by Italian wing-back Mattia De Sciglio, whose aggression and bold positioning in Italy's unique 3-5-2 system consistently pressured Juanfran and also completely negated his typical punch in attack.
1. Antoine Griezmann
5 of 5
What a tournament for Griezmann.
On the back of a sparkling season with Atletico Madrid in 2015-16, the striker, along with Paul Pogba, carried an immense weight on his shoulders to deliver glory on home soil for France. For Pogba, that burden proved troublesome, but not for Griezmann.
Despite not being able to push France over the line in the final against Portugal, the Atletico Madrid forward was comfortably the outstanding player across the duration of Euro 2016.
He scored the late winner in a tense affair against Albania, struck twice in the comeback against the Republic of Ireland, completely dominated Iceland and sunk Germany with a brace in the semi-finals.
His six goals earned him the Golden Boot and the Player of the Tournament award—a pair of honours that won't have surprised anyone at Atletico after his 18-month period of excellence in red and white.
