The national squads have been announced as teams prepare for Euro 2020 which is due to commence from the 11th of June.
English club Chelsea surprised everyone to lift the UEFA Champions League this past season and it will be intriguing to see how their star players perform in their country’s jersey.
Chelsea and Manchester City will each have 15 players representing their nations, which is the highest in the Premier League.
Here is the list of 5 Chelsea players who will be keenly watched throughout the tournament.
5. Reece James (England)
Gareth Southgate had named four right-backs in his 26-man squad for the European championship but the unfortunate injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold means that the young Chelsea man stands more of a chance to feature now. Speaking to the press after revealing his squad, Southgate emphasized that James has the quality of playing in multiple positions.
In the recently concluded campaign, the 21-year old defender played as a right-back, right-wing back, and in the midfield. Thomas Tuchel even deployed him on the right side of a back three against Leicester City in the FA Cup final to counter Jamie Vardy’s quick turn of pace on the break. The England manager is hoping that James can take his sublime form into Euro 2020 and help his side have a successful tournament.
4. Timo Werner (Germany)
Timo Werner’s first season in England was marred with VAR-related controversies and some shambolic finishing. In 35 Premier League appearances for the Blues, he bagged only six goals and provided 8 assists. These numbers do not back up the talent he possesses.
However, the latter half of the season saw a considerable upturn in his form. With Germany not having an outright number nine, one can expect Werner to start most of the games despite his topsy-turvy season.
3. Mason Mount (England)
Mount has established himself as a household name at Stamford Bridge after a mesmerizing season with the club. There were many question marks on who would make it into England’s much-hyped final squad but his spot in the national setup was never in doubt.
The 22-year old is known for his slick passing and creative vision. Even though he does not have the breakneck pace of Marcus Rashford or Raheem Sterling, he possesses a great ability to play perfectly weighted through balls which can open up defences as seen from the decisive pass in the Champions League final.
2. Kai Havertz (Germany)
Just like Timo Werner, club-record signing Kai Havertz had a poor start to life in England. However, it was him who scored the all-important Champions League goal past Manchester City in the final.
The Germans will be counting on him to create a bulk of chances and forge a partnership with Werner on the international stage. At a tender age of 21, he has the quality to light up the tournament with his flair.
1. N’Golo Kante (France)
It will be fair to say that Kante was the main man behind Thomas Tuchel’s explosive success at Chelsea. The Frenchman put in man of the match performances in both the semi-final legs and in the finals. He is a defensive workhorse who many believe can do the job equivalent of two players.
His presence at the centre of the park will allow Paul Pogba to operate in a free role, which the Manchester United man misses at the club level. If Kante can assist France to have a successful Euro 2020, we will see him emerge in talks regarding the coveted Ballon d’Or trophy.
