For all the importance of technique and intelligence in football, sometimes there’s nothing like the sight of a player just bursting past his opponent with sheer pace. Combine raw speed with elegance and you have poetic beauty. Just consider the likes of Ricardo Kaka, gliding past defenses and slotting the ball into the corner of the goal, or Diego Maradona waltzing his way past the entire England defense before scoring one of the best goals of all time or Luis Ronaldo, with the famous acceleration that would leave some of the best defenders in the world on the ground.
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We take a look at the paciest players on show at the upcoming European Championships in France:
#1 Gareth Bale (Wales)
It seems so long ago since Gareth Bale absolutely terrorized Douglas Maicon in a 2010 Uefa Champions League match at the San Siro that Spurs lost 4-3 to the reigning European champions Inter. Rarely had I ever seen the reputation of a player considered one of the best in his position tarnished with such ease as I did with Douglas Maicon, a mainstay in Inter’s defensive lineup as he was completely bamboozled by the Welsh left back’s pace.
As the years progressed, Maicon can take a lot of solace in the fact that Bale went on to establish himself as one of the best and paciest players in world football and would go on to embarrass a whole host of world class defenders. Bale, who can now play anywhere in a front three will be looking to make an impression with his national team at the Euros and opposition defenders will be sweating it out in training, planning for ways to counter his pace.
#2 Hector Bellerin (Spain)
Hector Bellerin, Arsenal’s young talent at right back broke Theo Walcott’s 40-metre record at the London club. Considering Walcott was often considered the fastest player in the world alongside Antonio Valencia this clearly shows how fast Bellerin really is.
Watching him gallop up and down the Gunner’s flank has been a joy to behold and even though he probably won’t be starting for Spain in the Euros, he’ll be more than ready if called upon. He’s comfortable with the ball at his feet and expect him to get to the byline and provide plenty of service for Morata and co. if he makes an appearance in the first team.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
The Portuguese star’s fitness levels are path breaking and at 31 years old, he shows absolutely no signs of relenting in the slightest. He’s still scoring more than a goal a game, and goes past players with ease. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he manages to keep this standard up well into his 30’s, such is the attention he pays to his body.
Winning an international tournament with Portugal would be a colossal achievement even for someone of his credentials, can his searing pace and goal-scoring exploits give Portugal a chance?
#4 Raheem Sterling (England)
Raheem Sterling has had a very underwhelming season by the lofty standards he had set himself after breaking out on the scene as a hugely talented teenager for Liverpool.
The sight of him searing past defenders and combining with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge was a breathtaking site and was a key factor in convincing Manchester City that he was worth the remarkable expenditure they made to bring him to Manchester. To say that his transfer has been a disappointment so far would be an understatement, but Sterling has plenty of years to prove his detractors wrong and what could be a better stage than to show is ability at the Euros?
#5 Jordi Alba (Spain)
Jordi Alba had a magnificent Euro 2012. It was the stage that he really announced himself on the international level as a pacy left back with plenty of guile and finesse in equal measure. His run to seal Italy’s fate in the final tore open their defense and broke Italian hearts.
Alba is fighting off strong competition from Cesar Azpilicueta for the left back slot in the first team and looks to be the favourite to start. If Spain begins to find their groove in France, expect Alba to go charging down the left flank and looking to get in behind opposition defenses.
