Former Southampton loanee Kevin Danso was rated as Austria’s best performer in their opening game of Euro 2024.
All three of Southampton‘s current players have lost their first fixtures of the tournament in Germany.
Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong’s Scotland lost 5-1 to hosts Germany in the opening game and Jan Bendarek‘s Poland lost 2-1 to the Netherlands.
With Armstrong confirmed to be leaving the St Mary’s club when his contract expires at the end of the June and Adams also seeing his deal end at the end of the month, it could be that Bednarek is the only player at the Euros that will be a Saints player next season.
Whilst the club may not be well represented in terms of current players, there are a number of former players representing their country’s this summer.
Former fan favourite Dusan Tadic impressed as he came off the bench for Serbia against England and now Kevin Danso has shown Southampton what they missed out on as he starred for Austria against France.
Former Southampton loanee Kevin Danso Austria’s best player v France
Danso spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Southampton from Augsburg and was managed by fellow countryman Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The RC Lens centre-back made just three Premier League starts in his solitary campaign in England but is now an important player for both club and country.
The 25-year-old had the unenviable task of trying to stop Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann on Monday night and performed admirably as Austria lost 1-0 through a Max Wober own goal.
The National News gave Danso the highest rating of any Austrian player, with only France’s N’Golo Kante scoring higher than his eight out of ten.
The comments that accompanied Danso’s rating read: ‘Good clearing header from dangerous Griezmann free kick. Muscular physical presence in the centre of defence. Strong as an ox.
Great saving tackle on Kolo Muani. Mbappe’s nose came off worst when it picked a fight with his shoulder late in the game.’
Danso showing Southampton what could have been
Danso was just 20 when he first joined Southampton in 2019 but was identified as a player with huge potential.
He found opportunities hard to come by with Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Jannik Vestergaard and Maya Yoshida all ahead of him in the pecking order, but he has arguably now eclipsed all of them in terms of ability.
The 20-cap Austrian was an integral part of the Lens side that secured Champions League football in the 2022/23 season and subsequently competed in the competition last season.
Danso’s pace and obvious strength make him a really useful asset at the heart of the defence, but Hasenhuttl played him out of position.
Only four of the Lens man’s ten games in all competitions came at centre-back, with three at right-back and two at left-back.
Whilst it should not be forgotten how young Danso was when he arrived at St Mary’s and the development he has undergone since, it does feel like a player who has slipped through the net.