'The style at City is so well set it isn't easy to step into another team'

IT’S been an interesting Euro 2024 so far for the club side with the most representation in Germany.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

After one round of games, 10 of City’s 14 players at the tournament had been on the winning side, but that hasn’t dimmed the spotlight on some of them.

There have been plenty of positives. Rodri looks as important to Spain as he is to City, Manuel Akanji contributed to an important Switzerland win and Kyle Walker and John Stones defended well as England edged over the line against Serbia.

For Belgium, Jeremy Doku dazzled but gave the ball away for Slovenia’s goal in a shock result and Kevin De Bruyne struggled to drag them back into the game. Those two have a fight on their hands now to get their tournament back on track.

There are more City players in the Portugal squad than any other, although that quartet does include Joao Cancelo who has spent the last 18 months away on loan and has pretty much terminated his relationship with Pep Guardiola.

In their nervy 2-1 win against Czechia on Tuesday, it was Ruben Dias who often drove them forward when they were behind, regularly popping up in advanced positions on the right, a la Stones at the Etihad.

It was an unconvincing opening game for Roberto Martinez’s side and Bernardo Silva didn’t escape criticism. His decision to try and find Cristiano Ronaldo when he was in an excellent position to shoot was an example of the kind of situation you never see for his club side.