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Chelsea at Euro 2016: players, manager and transfer targets

By Yves Binda

A picture taken on June 8, 2016 shows a the logo of the EURO 2016 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis before the Euro 2016 opening match to be held in two days. / AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD (Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture taken on June 8, 2016 shows a the logo of the EURO 2016 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis before the Euro 2016 opening match to be held in two days. / AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD (Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Goalkeeper of Belgium Thibaut Courtois stops the ball on March 27, 2016 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, during a closed training session as part of the preparation prior to the friendly game against Portugal. The Red Devils will play a friendly football match against Portugal on March 29 in Lisbon, in preparation for the upcoming Euro 2016. The match was moved due to safety concerns following the Brussels terrorists attacks. / AFP / BELGA / Nico Vereecken / Belgium OUT (Photo credit should read NICO VEREECKEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper of Belgium Thibaut Courtois stops the ball on March 27, 2016 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, during a closed training session as part of the preparation prior to the friendly game against Portugal.The Red Devils will play a friendly football match against Portugal on March 29 in Lisbon, in preparation for the upcoming Euro 2016. The match was moved due to safety concerns following the Brussels terrorists attacks. / AFP / BELGA / Nico Vereecken / Belgium OUT (Photo credit should read NICO VEREECKEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Thibaut Courtois – Siva Sankar

After suffering from a sophomore slump at Chelsea, Thibaut Courtois will be looking to get back to his best by helping Belgium’s makeshift defense keep clean sheets. Although the Belgian national team features a star studded lineup, they don’t create much and will be relying on keeping clean sheets and hoping for a moment of magic from their numerous stars up front.

Courtois has owned the starting spot as keeper for quite a few years now and is a senior player in the squad. After his head injury last season and a knee surgery he had in this season, he has lacked the confidence needed to come out and claim crosses and dominate his box aerially.

He will want to control his box like he used to at his best and help organize a defense that is not Belgium’s first choice pairing by any metric. Like most Chelsea players involved in the tournament he will be looking to bounce back and reinstate his claim as being one of the best in his position.

Belgium have a tough group and I suspect Courtois will have to make more crucial saves than he or his manager would like. Nevertheless, the big Belgian is expected to rebound from any lingering malaise from an injury and suspension-riddled season to lead Belgium to success at the tournament.

Next: Antonio Conte

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