Legs of African soccer player kicking the ball at stadium
The UEFA European Football Championship is the pinnacle of European international soccer. In Europe, some argue that it rivals the World Cup, and whether it’s true or not, it’s certainly held in high esteem. With the strength of European soccer, the competition is fierce and often delivers classic matches.
However, there isn’t a vast history of players from MLS competing in European tournaments. Some of the greatest players from the continent have played in MLS, but not at a time when they were representing their nation at the Euros. Nevertheless, players like Robbie Keane have captained their country at the tournament while plying their trade in MLS.
The league continues to grow, and a new generation of Europeans wants to play in the U.S. Here are some MLS players that will be at Euro 2020.
Robin Lod
It’s Finland’s first major tournament and they won their first game against Denmark. Belgium were expected to top their group prior to the tournament and they are among the favorites to win the tournament at +650 in the Euro 2020 betting alongside France, England and Italy.
At the helm is Helsinki-born player Robin Lod, a hard-nosed attacking midfielder who combines creativity with positional know-how. He sets up on the right side of Finland’s midfield 3 and has room to operate. Although, with the quality of opposition, he will be asked to put in the hard yards in midfield.
Robin began carving out his career in Europe before moving to MLS outfit Minnesota United. Since his transfer, his game has taken on new heights as he has adapted to being somewhat of a space interpreter, like Thomas Müller.
Daniel Gazdag
Daniel Gazdag has just signed for the Philadephia Union, so MLS fans will have to wait to see what he can do for their squad. However, to get a preview, people can admire him at this summer’s Euros. He honed his skills for Budapest club Honvéd, gaining admiration from a myriad of teams in Europe before coming to the U.S.
Hungary were drawn into what many pundits referred to as “The Group of Death“, so little was expected of them as France, Portugal and Germany are all significantly stronger.
Szabolcs Schön
Szabolcs Schön is another Hungarian player who has just recently signed for FC Dallas. The tricky winger is just 20 years old, and this was his first major tournament.
He is known for his clever movement with the ball and has bags of potential. He did feature in the first game, as youngsters can often play without fear when given a chance, but he wasn’t able to impact the game.
The MLS’s growth now seems to be focused on youth. Before, they may have signed aging stars to grow the brand, but young soccer players will develop their skills in the MLS now. Expect to see more young players from the MLS at the Euros in the future.
