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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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Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan (L) vies with Norway’s Jonas Svensson during a friendly football match between Belgium and Norway at the King Baudouin Stadium, on June 5, 2016 in Brussels. / AFP / Belga / YORICK JANSENS / Belgium OUT (Photo credit should read YORICK JANSENS/AFP/Getty Images)
Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan (L) vies with Norway’s Jonas Svensson during a friendly football match between Belgium and Norway at the King Baudouin Stadium, on June 5, 2016 in Brussels. / AFP / Belga / YORICK JANSENS / Belgium OUT (Photo credit should read YORICK JANSENS/AFP/Getty Images) /

Radja Nainggolan

As something of The Pride of London’s Radja Nainggolan expert it seems fitting that I would contribute his preview here (Andre Carlisle would disagree…).

This will be a big tournament for Nainggolan. As a Chelsea FC supporter I am hoping desperately that Chelsea tie up his signing before the tournament because I expect the price to explode during Euro 2016.

Belgium are one of the favorites for the tournament coming in on the back of several successful years. A team that certainly doesn’t lack in any of the attacking departments, it is the Roma man who will be charged with enforcing in the middle of the park and allowing his counterparts to move freely in front of him.

The competition will mainly be between him and Alex Witsel for Belgium’s dominant CM during the tournament and this is a competition I expect Nainggolan to dominate.

While Witsel can hit a decent pass every now and again he is nowhere near the consistent heart-beat in the middle of the park that Nainggolan is. He is an absolute workhorse who actually possesses more talent moving forward than he seems to be recognized for.

Nainggolan has an unbelievable work-rate and ability to make seemingly dangerous tackles without committing a stoppage in play and getting himself in the book. This is the kind of steel that oddly both Chelsea and Belgium will be needing if they are to succeed.

If Belgium have a good tournament (and many people’s minimum expectation for this golden generation of players is to reach the later rounds) then a lot of it will have to do with the successes of Nainggolan in midfield.

Next: Romelu Lukaku

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