Top 5 teams after Euro 2016 group stage

Ivan Rakitic of Croatia BORDEAUX, FRANCE - JUNE 21: during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Croatia and Spain at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 21, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Manuel Blondeau/Icon Sport) (Photo by Manuel Blondeau/Icon Sport via Getty Images) /

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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Thomas Mueller of Germany reacts during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Parc des Princes on June 21, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

3. Germany

There is a very thin line between number three and number two in this countdown, but I will explain a little later. Germany has definitely been a top five team in this tournament, though. They are the defending World Cup Champions and they still have an extremely talented roster. With Götze, Müller, Özil, Neuer, Kroos, Gómez and Boateng (I could go on), they are without a doubt one of the more talented teams at the tournament.

But they haven’t looked like the team they looked like in Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. Müller has yet to really make an impact (zero goals) while Özil and Kroos have yet to get in their groove and be one of the more dominant midfields like they were in Brazil.

Their attackers, apart from Gómez, have yet to make their mark on this tournament. And yet, the German team still won their group. With Khedira holding down the midfield it is going to be tough for teams to score against him and the defense of these Germans.

If their attackers can get their groove going against Slovakia in the first round of the knockout stage, the Germans can definitely make a run at winning back-to-back major tournaments. But if their attack is nonexistent, like it has been much of this tournament, they could go out in the quarterfinals against Italy or Spain.

Next: Poland

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