Euro 2016: 5 best performers from the group stage

#3 Toni Kroos (Germany)

Toni Kroos has emerged as the main man for Germany in midfield

Arguably Germany’s best player so far, Toni Kroos has been the most accomplished passer of a ball from any of the 24 teams involved.

Against Northern Ireland in their 1-0 win, Kroos completed 121 passes which was more than the entire amount recorded by Michael O’ Neill’s team throughout those 90 minutes. Quite an impressive feat.

Of course, the number of passes means little unless you’re creating chances aplenty with it for your team-mates, and that is exactly what the Real Madrid playmaker has been doing. Dictating the tempo and moving the ball with intelligence and fluidity, he has given the Germans a real inventiveness to their midfield, as well as providing the right sort of balance necessary for the big stage.

The 26-year-old sits deeper than the arguably more incisive Mesut Ozil, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be cut-throat when he wants to and when he gets into the mood he can really hurt teams. Watching him spray the ball about with authority has been a genuine joy to behold. He has been key to their success so far, and as it’s expected Joachim Loew’s charges will reach the final, they will need Kroos control to emerge with the Henri Delaunay trophy.