The history of the European Championship is littered with key players who were vital to their team’s success in the fight to be kings of Europe. The best example of this is Michel Platini in the 1984 finals in France.

The current president of UEFA had a sensational tournament and dominated the competition in much the same way as Maradona would two years later at the World Cup in Mexico.

Platini scored nine goals in five games and considering that France only bagged 14 goals in the whole tournament this is a hugely impressive achievement. His haul included two hat-tricks as well as the winner in the semi-final and the opener in the final.

‘After a largely anonymous first season with Chelsea, this past campaign was vindication of his vast wages and proof of what a class act Ballack is’


Looking ahead to Austria and Switzerland, who is going to be this tournament’s Platini? There is no shortage of options but four names stick out:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 42 goals in an incredible season and the Premier League and Champions League double. The Portuguese winger is undoubtedly the best player in the world and will be expected to live up to his star billing in Euro 2008.

After reaching the final of the last Euros and the semi-final of the World Cup, Portugal certainly have the ability to go all the way. Unlike at United, where he has gelled brilliantly with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo does not have a truly class out-and-out striker to play off with Portugal.

In the past the mercurial winger and sometime striker has been criticised for doing too much for his national team, and whilst the individual brilliance of Ronaldo will see Portugal progress through the group, the latter stages could be a step too far, especially after an exhausting season.

2. Franck Ribery – The current French team is evolving quickly. The World Cup of 2006 saw Ribery break through and dazzle but there were still doubts about his overall quality. A great season at Marseille has been followed by a spectacular one at Bayern Munich.

Ribery may look ugly but he is poetry in motion a football pitch. He played a massive role in Munich’s domestic double success this season and he is becoming one of the most feared wingers in the world. With Thierry Henry struggling for form and coach Raymond Domenech unsure of who will be in his starting line-up, the onus will be on Ribery, especially early on in the “group of death”.

3. Michael Ballack – Following their scintillating form in the last World Cup, it is incredible to think that some pundits feel Germany under Joachim Löw are a far better prospect than under previous manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

The Chelsea midfielder and Germany captain is the heartbeat of this side and plays in arguably the most important position in the team – behind the two strikers, expected to be Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez. But Ballack himself is sure to be a major goal threat.

After a largely anonymous first season with Chelsea, this past campaign was vindication of his vast wages and proof of what a class act Ballack is. In the latter weeks of the season he almost carried Chelsea across the finishing line, and his runners-up medal from the Champions League final in Moscow may be just the inspiration he needs.

4. Cesc Fabregas – To those of us fortunate enough to watch Fabregas every week in the Premier League, it may come as a surprise that the Arsenal schemer has yet to really stamp his authority on the Spanish national team. Admittedly he is playing alongside some class players in Xavi, Iniesta et al, but if Fabregas can reproduce his Arsenal form, Spain may finally achieve on the international stage.

Coach Luis Aragones clearly understands just how key Fabregas is to Spain’s hopes. He has awarded the former Barcelona youngster the coveted number 10 shirt. Fans of the beautiful game will be willing Fabregas on – this could be a pivotal tournament for the PFA young player of the year.

It is of course worth pointing out that some teams are not as reliant on one player as others. Greece’s success in the last Euros was down to a terrific team ethic. Similarly Italy, the World Cup winners, have great players like Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro. But every so often a tournament is lit up by one magician – think Marco van Basten in 1988 or Zinedine Zidane in 2000.

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