Approaching the 2016 European Championship, Bleacher Report will review and rank the top 200 players of the tournament, according to their positions. In this ranking overview - attacking midfielders and wing-backs. The ranking is divided into two categories: one based on technical skills (clever play, passing, first touch, and ball control), and the other based on productivity (goals, assists, and impact in attack). Each player in each of these categories can score a maximum of 50 points, and by adding up the points obtained in both categories, the ranking of attacking midfielders for the European Championship was arranged. In the first part of this overview, attacking midfielders remaining in positions 16-30 are presented. 30. Moussa Sissoko - France Technical skills: 36/50 Sissoko failed to help the Newcastle United team avoid relegation to the Championship last season. Nevertheless, the Frenchman should not be blamed for the team's failure. Sissoko is a powerful runner whose technique allows him to play in multiple positions. Perhaps that's why he was called up to the national team, rather than Hatem Ben Arfa. Productivity: 34/50 At times, Sissoko seemed like the only creative player in the Newcastle team. He scored just one goal throughout the season but provided eight assists, contributing to just over 20% of the team's goals that season. Overall rating: 70/100 Sissoko is one of the least important players in the French team, but just being in the squad for the European Championship should bring him joy. However, he is unlikely to expect many opportunities in this competition. 29. Gokhan Tore - Turkey Technical skills: 37/50 Tore has long been considered one of the most promising players in his position, but it took him quite some time to shine. For three seasons, Tore has been the best attacking wing-back for Besiktas and one of the most effective players in the Turkish league when it comes to dribbling. Productivity: 35/50 In 111 games for one of Turkey's strongest clubs, Tore scored 19 goals and provided 28 assists. His speed and dribbling make him dangerous, but the 24-year-old still needs to improve his skills and gain experience to capitalize on opportunities effectively. Overall rating: 72/100 Among the most important attacking players for Turkey are Tore. He has the ability to create space for the strikers, and if he adds a few goals, he could help the Turkish team become one of the surprises of this championship. 28. Zlatko Junuzovic - Austria Technical skills: 37/50 Last season, Junuzovic was one of the most important players for Werder Bremen - when he played well, the whole team did well. Whether in the center or left wing, this versatile player relies on precision passing, accurate crosses, and excellent set piece execution. Productivity: 36/50 At one point, a streak of 17 games without a goal seemed to doom his team to relegation. However, towards the end of the season, he remembered how to score, earning points for the team and helping them escape and stay in the Bundesliga. Overall rating: 73/100 Without a top-level striker, Austria will rely on the attacking wing-backs for scoring and playmaking, among which Junuzovic will be key. After a tough season, the Austrian will aim to extend his successful finish to the European Championships. 27. Jakub Blaszczykowski - Poland Technical skills: 36/50 Last season, Blaszczykowski was loaned to Fiorentina, who needed reinforcement in the attacking wing-back position. When he featured, he looked good, but injuries and other reasons limited him to just 15 appearances in Serie A. Productivity: 37/50 In the past season, Kuba scored twice and provided two assists. Although these numbers do not reflect high productivity, they were more attributed to the change of clubs and leagues and the injuries that plagued him that season. Before that, in almost 200 games for Borussia, he scored 27 goals and provided 43 assists, and everyone knew what he could demonstrate in attack. Overall rating: 73/100 Poland does not have many talented players, so their best players will have to play extremely well. The 30-year-old attacking wing-back will need to feed Robert Lewandowski with balls and not forget to return to defense. If the Pole does his job well, his team can dream of reaching the quarterfinals. 26. Mateo Kovacic - Croatia Technical skills: 40/50 Real Madrid signed Kovacic for £21.3 million due to his potential. The 22-year-old midfielder is technical, and his ability to find teammates does not go unnoticed. Like many young players, he needs playing time to improve his natural abilities. Productivity: 34/50 Kovacic's season was not productive, but it can be justified. Last season, the Croatian did not score goals and provided two assists. His difficult integration into the club and a new role - rarely getting to the field, it was challenging for a young player to fit into Real's game. In the next season, more can be expected from Kovacic in terms of offensive contribution. Overall rating: 74/100 Playing for the national team, Kovacic will not need time to adapt and will have his minutes on the field. Partnering with Modric and Rakitic in the midfield, the Croatian will have to avoid mistakes. No one expects him to win games on his own, but as a Real player, he must not disrupt the work of his more experienced teammates. 25. Gylfi Sigurdsson - Iceland Technical skills: 38/50 A master of set pieces and possessing a great long shot, Sigurdsson adds an extra dimension to Swansea City's attack. A cool-headed and technical player, he found his place at Liberty Stadium, but if he continues his form from the 2015-2016 season, we might soon see him in the shirt of one of the top clubs. Productivity: 37/50 Sigurdsson paired well with Andre Ayew. The Ghanaian reduced the pressure on the Icelander in midfield, helping both players. Last season, the attacking midfielder scored 11 goals and provided two assists. Overall rating: 75/100 Sigurdsson will have no other choice but to be the leader of the Iceland national team. Almost all of the team's attacking potential will depend on him. If the winger could guide his national team to the knockout stages, it would be considered a great achievement. 24. Lucas Vazquez - Spain Technical skills: 39/50 After a year-long loan to Espanyol, Vasquez signed a contract with the club last summer. However, after just a month, the Spaniard - for double the amount - was recalled to Real Madrid. A technical winger who can create space and deliver precise crosses, Vasquez is also dangerous when trying to create space for himself in a one-on-one situation with defenders. Productivity: 38/50 Last season, Vasquez directly contributed to 12 of the 110 Real goals, despite not being a key player in the team throughout the season. Playing just 1227 of 3420 minutes that season, the 24-year-old player had an effective performance. Overall rating: 77/100 Just to make it to the European Championship, Vasquez had to compete with players like Isco or Saul. After playing his first game for the national team yesterday, the Spaniard arrives at this championship with a rather unclear role. However, consistent playing time in a club like Real Madrid indicates that Vasquez can do the same in the Spanish national team. 23. Xherdan Shaqiri - Switzerland Technical skills: 41/50 In recent years, Stoke City has acquired several well-known names in the football world, and one of those players is Shaqiri. Under Mark Hughes, the playing style of the team changed, giving Shaqiri more freedom in attack, where the team's results are also influenced by the Swiss player's game. A right-wing attacking midfielder, Shaqiri is technical, fast, and quick-thinking. His first touch and body control often frustrate opposing defenders. Productivity: 37/50 In his first season in the Premier League, Shaqiri demonstrated average productivity. Given his experience in English football, in his debut season, he contributed to nine Stoke City goals. In his previous spells at Basel and Bayern, he had better statistics, but his game in the new club has not been straightforward to assess. Overall rating: 78/100 Switzerland's attack is limited. With excellent players in defensive positions, Shaqiri and perhaps Breel Embolo are the highlights in attack. For his national team to reach the knockout stages, Shaqiri needs to showcase his best qualities. 22. Adam Lallana - England Technical skills: 43/50 28-year-old Lallana looks younger than he is, possibly due to his long development in lower leagues. After spending time in the second and third divisions of English football, Lallana entered the Premier League not only with great speed but also with good technical abilities. Productivity: 37/50 Many believe Lallana has better statistical figures than he actually does. In his 90 appearances for the Reds, the Englishman directly contributed to 25 goals. The numbers are not high because he often did not play the full game from start to finish. Overall rating: 80/100 Lallana will likely have to start matches from the bench in the European Championship. However, he will have the opportunity to strengthen the team's attacking potential as he enters the field. 21. Joao Mario - Portugal Technical skills: 42/50 Most of Portugal's attacking talents play outside their country's league, and the best among local attacking players in the national team is Joao Mario from Sporting Lisbon. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder shone in the Portuguese league due to his speed, ball control, and dribbling. Productivity: 39/50 Last season, Mario created 12 goals for his teammates and scored seven himself, directly contributing to 19 of his team's goals. His technical abilities, dribbling, and vision on the field make him more dangerous in attacks. Overall rating: 81/100 Looking at the current Portugal squad, it is challenging to name the eleventh player who will take the field. However, Mario is one of the main contenders to occupy one of the attacking positions on the field, but he will have to fight for it. 20. Hakan Calhanoglu - Turkey Technical skills: 43/50 Representing the Turkish national team, Calhanoglu was born in Germany and spent his entire career there, and now he plays for Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is one of the most talented players in Europe and excels in set pieces. Although he doesn't always get things right, when he does, it's a sight to behold. Productivity: 38/50 Calhanoglu is useful not only in set pieces - he can make necessary and timely passes, expanding his role significantly. Last season, he provided six assists for Bayer. Overall rating: 81/100 Turkey has many talented and high-level players, so their performance in this championship will depend on how well they play. Calhanoglu will have a specific role in the national team, but he has the ability to play even better than expected, both for the team and its fans. 19. Andre Gomes - Portugal Technical skills: 44/50 Tall but also strong and fast, Gomes often makes effective use of his athleticism and physique. He can evade opponents and, at just 22 years old, he is rapidly improving his skills. Portugal still needs more experience, but if he continues to improve, he will get closer each year to Europe's elite players. Productivity: 38/50 Gomes is well-suited to the 4-3-3 formation. When the team played with a 4-2-3-1 schema, he did not perform as well. His technical skills were slightly hindered in central midfield due to having to defend more than usual, and it was harder for him to excel on the wing, where he could not utilize his natural abilities as easily. Not surprisingly, each of the 11 goals he directly contributed to were scored when the team played in the 4-3-3 formation. Overall rating: 82/100 Fortunately for Gomes, Portugal's head coach favors the 4-3-3 formation. Carvalho and Moutinho will almost certainly take the first two midfield positions, with Gomes becoming the third player in that trio. He adds some variety to the team, and if he chooses the right position, he can help Portugal become dangerous to all opponents, but if he chooses the wrong field position, his country's tournament might end shortly after it begins. 18. Ross Barkley - England Technical skills: 42/50 In a poor season for Everton, only two players raised their value. The first was Romelu Lukaku, and the second - Ross Barkley. After showing he could be a great player from time to time, last season he finally proved he could play almost always at his best. Bursting through with the ball, he created opportunities for himself and his teammates, and alongside Lukaku, he played the best season of his career so far. Productivity: 40/50 Barkley's next step in his career is consistency. Contributing to nine goals and 12 assists in one season is not enough to consider him a constantly dangerous player. However, the 22-year-old's career is just beginning, and his performances this season are encouraging for his future as a winger. Overall rating: 82/100 There were concerns that Barkley might not make the final 23-player list, but his fine season for Everton and during national team training was enough for him to travel to France with the squad. Now all the Englishman needs to do is continue working hard and wait for Roy Hodgson to give him a chance at the European Championships. 17. Ricardo Quaresma - Portugal Technical skills: 45/50 While there are players better than Quaresma in the world, few can match his talent. Sometimes it seems like Portugal doesn't need to put in any effort - everything comes easy to him, and he can do it all on the field. But there are also games where he struggles to do anything virtually. As a right-wing attacking midfielder, when he shows his best form, Quaresma's magical right foot can deliver perfect crosses to his team's forwards. His technical arsenal allows him to compete successfully even when playing deeper in midfield. Productivity: 38/50 Quaresma's biggest problem has always been and remains a lack of consistency. Throughout his career, he has directly contributed to 169 goals, and for most players, these numbers would be considered outstanding, but for a talent like Quaresma, it's just an average achievement. Last season, he created 13 goals for his teammates, which also earned him a place in the Portugal national team. Overall rating: 83/100 The Portuguese coach Fernando Santos could hardly afford to do without Quaresma - he needs a player who can create opportunities for the forwards. Opponents' defenses will usually focus on Cristiano Ronaldo, so the 32-year-old will have more space and will need to take advantage of it, being more responsible for the end of attacking plays. 16. Aaron Ramsey - Wales Technical skills: 42/50 Aaron Ramsey played his best season in three years. Later, Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil, injuries sometimes put a stop to his momentum, and his midfield game never regained its former quality and productivity. However, when Ramsey is healthy, he can still be a deadly weapon in attack, using his cold-bloodedness and technique to make an important pass or score a goal. Productivity: 41/50 Ramsey's next step in his career is consistency. Contributing directly to nine goals isn't enough for him to be considered a constantly dangerous player. However, the Welshman's career is just beginning, and his results from this season look promising when looking at his future in a different attacking role. Overall rating: 83/100 Ramsey is likely one of the three most important players on his country's team. Ashley Williams takes care of defense, Gareth Bale is responsible for scoring goals, and Ramsey is in charge of creating opportunities and controlling the central area. Yet, this championship will not be easy for him. If Ramsey advances too much in the offensive approach, he will create spaces between other team zones, and if he withdraws too much into defense, Bale will face more significant pressure. Choosing the right role, Ramsey can help Wales be a danger to all rivals, but if the player selects the wrong field position, his country's team can leave the tournament shortly after it starts. Previously Published: Goalkeeper Ranking: Positions 1-10, 11-20. Left-Back Ranking: Positions 1-10, 11-20. Right-Back Ranking: Positions 1-10, 11-20. Center-Backs Ranking: Positions 1-15, 16-30. Defensive Midfielders Ranking: Positions 1-15, 16-30.
