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The Euro 2016 is only days away as teams finish up their preparation before the start of the tournament. Spain concluded their last friendly last night as they suffered a humiliating defeat to minnows Georgia, losing 1-0.
Portugal will play the last friendly before the competition tonight as they take on Estonia. It’s not easy when playing for your international team, because the amount of time you spend training with your international mates is minimum.
Nevertheless, there are players who are expected to perform at the standards they set at club level, most of them normally being the goalscorers. So here are the 5 players who could take the Euro 2016 by storm and claim the Golden Boot.
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6) Harry Kane
Harry Kane had a blinder of a season in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. The striker first burst onto the scene in the 2014/15 season becoming the first player since Gary Lineker to score more than 30 goals in all competitions in a single season for the club
He was out to prove that he was not just a one-season wonder and accomplished that goal in style by winning the Premier League Golden Boot this campaign, beating the likes of Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero to the award.
Kane will be playing in his first ever major international tournament. Despite not having the experience of playing in a tournament of this magnitude before he has the confidence and ability to continue his goalscoring form.
With fellow teammates Dele Alli and Eric Dier also most likely to make the starting XI their understanding will be key to England’s success and Kane will be looking to use that to his advantage.
Kane only managed 3 goals in the group stages but is expected to kick it up a notch in the tournament.
5) Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden would not have made it through the qualifying stages if it had not been for their inspirational striker. The big man finished with 11 goals in the qualifying stages two short of top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
Ibra had his best ever goal scoring season for PSG as he finished the campaign with 38 goals, only 2 behind European Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez. Ibrahimovic decided not to renew his contract with the French Champions and is now being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
Sweden face a tough task to say the least to qualify from their group. With Italy, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland all looking like they could squeeze through it's anybody's guess what the final outcome will be.
But one thing is certain, if Zlatan is in the mood the other teams will have a huge problem in trying to stop him. This also might be his last ever international tournament which will give even more motivation to make his mark.
4) Artem Dzyuba
Artem Dzyuba is not a name most will know but it’s a name worth noting. The Russian hitman helped his side get through the qualifying rounds in flying colours. Dzyuba currently plies his trade for Zenit St. Petersburg.
Dzyuba finished with 8 goals in 10 games averaging almost a goal a game helping Russia to a second-placed finish in their group. They managed to score 21 goals in the qualifying stages which means, Dzuyba scored more than a third of that.
He also had a fantastic domestic season scoring 23 in 43 games and is a definite contender for the award. Russia are no pushovers and stand a good chance of qualifying from their group.
They have been pitted against Wales, England and Slovakia all three of which have an equal chance of making it to the next stage. With the high level of competition, Dzyuba might prove to be the difference between qualifying and crashing out.
3) Cristiano Ronaldo
There is no goalscoring contenders list this man would not make. Ronaldo has been a pitcher of consistency for so long it is almost hard to believe. The Portuguese has achieved a lot of success with both Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Ronaldo narrowly missed out on the European Golden Shoe this season to a prolific Luis Suarez after claiming the award in the last couple years But he has been unlucky at the international level.
The closest Ronaldo has come to winning the Euros was in 2004 when Portugal reached the finals but lost to Greece, still considered as one of the biggest shocks in footballing history.
Ronaldo netted 5 times during the qualifying stages. He also finished as joint top scorer in Euro 2012 with 5 other players. Once again Portugal will be looking for inspiration from their talisman. They do not have the toughest of groups but both Austria and Iceland are capable of upsets.
2) Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski over the years has proven time and time again why he is one of the best strikers in the world. He made his name in Borussia Dortmund helping them to and league and cup double.
He was one of Bayern Munich's biggest transfer coups after he let his contract run down at Dortmund and moved to the Bavarians on a free. The Pole has only gone on to become even better since his move.
Lewandowski was in blistering form for Poland in the qualifying rounds netting an incredible 13 times for his country as they finished second behind Germany in the qualifying group.
They even managed to defeat the mighty Germans en route to qualifying and only lost once in 10 games. They only finished a point behind their rivals in the qualifying stage but will have another crack at them after being seeded in the same group for the tournament.
Poland can be considered dark horses for the competition and having already beaten Germany once will fancy their chances to make it far in the competition. A lot will rest on the scoring prowess of Lewandowski but having done it so many times in the past there is no doubt he will be at it again in France.
1) Thomas Muller
Thomas Muller has made a habit of scoring goals at the right time. He has always performed for club and country and has scored at an incredible rate as well. Muller has built a reputation of being a major tournament player.
The Bayern Munich man managed to win the Golden Boot in the FIFA World Cup 2010 when he was only 20 years of age. He scored 5 goals in that tournament and he backed it up with another 5 goals in the next World Cup finishing second to James Rodriguez.
Muller has not performed to his peak in the Euro tournaments and has managed only 5 goals in the qualifying rounds but there is no doubt when it comes his quality and big match ability for his team.
Germany will need Muller once again to lead the line. With Miroslav Klose not in the frame anymore, the impetus will be on the 26-year-old to fire his team to the trophy. The Germans along with France have been marked down as the favourites and Muller being in that team is a big reason as to why they might go all the way
