The National's Sport cover for the Saturday, June 25 issue, featuring Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski ahead of the Euro 2016 knockout stages.
Ian Hawkey writes this trio presents the players most important to their countries at this tournament:
“It is not so much superstar status that seems to weigh. Perhaps it’s the captain’s armband. It has a been a mixed tournament so far for Cristiano Ronaldo, serial record-breaker in his club football, holder of most of the landmark records for his country.
“It has been a personally challenging two weeks, too, for Robert Lewandowski, leading scorer in the Bundesliga this season, and in the qualifying four Euro 2016. The captain of Poland, who meet Switzerland on Saturday, has yet to open his account in the finals.
“It has been a magnificent 14 days, though, for Gareth Bale, leader of the Wales attack, fire-breather in chief for the Dragons, but not their captain. Bale spearheads, his lower-profile colleague Ashley Williams captains.
“Portugal, Poland and Wales, each of who seek a place in the quarter-finals on Saturday, arrived at this expanded European championships with a couple of things in common. They were not among the top favourites to win, but they were noted as dangerous outsiders for one reason above all: They had an individual who on his day, can swing a contest against anybody.”
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