Only Bayern Munich have more players than Crystal Palace at Euro 2016 as the tournament enters its closing stages.
As most Premier League sides begin their pre-season preparations and welcome their players back to the training grounds Alan Pardew is watching on as five of his squad battle it out in the last four in France.
Palace contributed three members of the Welsh squad – Wayne Hennessey, Joe Ledley and Jonathan Williams – and saw star midfielder Yohan Cabaye join up with hosts France, where he started the group fixture against Switzerland.
The arrival of Steve Mandanda, a French international goalkeeper, has seen the ranks of Palace stars at the Euros swell to five, one more than Arsenal, Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon and four more than Barcelona.
Players left at Euro 2016
8 - Bayern Munich
5 - Crystal Palace
4 - Real Madrid, Arsenal, Sporting
3 - Juventus, Liverpool, Man United
2 - Tottenham, West Ham
1 - Barcelona, Reading, Burnley
0 - Chelsea, Watford
Bayern Munich’s eight players are predominantly found in the German squad, though Kingsley Coman (France) and Renato Sanches (Portugal) are also representing the Bavarian giants at the championships.
Summer signing Andros Townsend was among those involved in Palace’s first training session of the season. He and Mandanda are set to be joined by West Ham defender James Tomkins, whilst the south London side have also been linked with a major swoop for Liverpool’s Christian Benteke.
