Milan Baroš

A sharp, restless Czech striker, Milan Baroš played football like a man permanently convinced there was a gap to attack, even when there probably wasn’t. Quick, aggressive and direct, he was at his best when running at defenders, attacking the channels and turning loose balls into immediate panic. He was not a classic target man like Jan Koller, nor as aerially imposing as Skuhravý, but he offered a different kind of danger: acceleration, instinct, chaos and sudden finishing. His Euro 2004 was the peak version of him, explosive and fearless, with that Golden Boot run making him look almost unplayable for a few weeks. At club level, inconsistency kept him below true elite status, but on the right stage he could be brutal. A dynamic striker more than a pure poacher, and a nightmare when the match opened up.