{"id":1352216,"date":"2024-07-08T12:59:08","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T11:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1352216"},"modified":"2024-09-01T22:46:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T21:46:21","slug":"best-starting-goalkeepers-at-euro-2024","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/best-starting-goalkeepers-at-euro-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Who’s the best goalkeeper left at Euro 2024?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it’s keeping out a last-minute effort or becoming the hero in a penalty shootout, goalkeepers invariably play a key role at any major tournament.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

That has been the case this summer at the European Championships in Germany. A number of elite goalkeepers have been on show and with three knockout matches already going to a shootout, there have been heroes and villains aplenty. What’s more, with some of the most highly-fancied nations struggling to find the right balance in attack, their goalkeepers have had to pull out a few vital saves to keep their hopes alive.<\/p>\n

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So, with the semi-finals about to begin, it’s probably a good time to rank the four remaining starting goalkeepers at Euro 2024:<\/p>\n

4. Bart Verbruggen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It’s important to get one thing straight before we start. Finishing fourth on this list is not something to be ashamed of; the standard is incredibly high. In fact, the Netherlands<\/strong> simply wouldn’t have made the semi-finals were it not for the efforts of Bart Verbruggen.<\/p>\n

The youngest goalkeeper at Euro 2024 at 21 years old, Verbruggen already seems to be emulating great Dutch goalkeepers of years gone by like Edwin van der Sar and Hans van Breukelen, making 15 saves this summer so far, with only three goalkeepers managing more.<\/p>\n

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Verbruggen has kept two clean sheets and conceded five goals in Germany so far, with his standout moment undoubtedly the incredible close-range save to deny Semih Kilicsoy in the dying minutes of the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Turkey in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

Among goalkeepers to play more than once at Euro 2024, Verbruggen’s pass completion rate of 83.97% is second only to Portugal’s Diogo Costa (88%).<\/p>\n

Whether it’s building from the back or keeping the ball out of the net, Verbruggen looks like a future goalkeeping great, which will come as no surprise to Brighton supporters.<\/p>\n

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    3. Unai Simon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Unai Simon has been prone to the odd error in the past but he’s been excellent at Euro 2024 so far and a vital cog in the Spanish machine. The only game he has missed this summer was La Roja’s final group game against Albania when they’d already qualified, meaning Luis de la Fuente chose to give Arsenal stopper David Raya a run.<\/p>\n

    Simon has kept two clean sheets across his four appearances with just two goals conceded despite facing 5.39 expected goals on target, while Florian Wirtz is the only opposition player to find a way past him thus far. His most impressive appearance has come in Spain<\/strong>‘s 3-0 win over Croatia in their opening game, where Simon became the first player in the tournament to save a penalty and keep a clean sheet.<\/p>\n

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    The Athletic Club goalkeeper’s tournament in Germany has been more about big saves at important moments rather than being overly worked, with Spain dominating most of their games so far. However, he’s delivered the goods right when his nation has needed him. And what of those customary mistakes? Well, Simon has yet to make an error leading to a shot or goal.<\/p>\n

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      2. Jordan Pickford<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Jordan Pickford has been criminally underrated for years and, without him, Everton simply wouldn’t be a Premier League team anymore. Of course, he’s famously always given his best for England<\/strong>, whether through eye-catching saves at key moments in big games or standing tall in penalty shootouts.<\/p>\n

      Prior to Euro 2024, Pickford had already made saves in shootouts against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, Switzerland at the 2018\/19 UEFA Nations League Finals, and Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Now, he’s added the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland to that list, keeping Manuel Akanji out to help guide the Three Lions to a 5-3 shootout win. Those water bottle notes have come in handy once again.<\/p>\n

      \n

      ?? Pickford\u2019s water bottle for the shootout\u2026 \u2018Akanji, dive left\u2019. pic.twitter.com\/Kp7zOH2cb6<\/a><\/p>\n

      — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n