Team of the Tournament (4-3-3)
To finish I thought I would put together a team of the tournament and with just one game left to play now seems like the perfect time to do so. Below is my picks and although I am sure some of you will disagree I feel it is a fairly reasonable selection based on the players who have impressed me the most throughout the summer.
Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford – England 🏴
I for one did not see this level of performance coming from the Everton goalkeeper this summer. I have certainly been a critic of his in recent years and thought he could be one of the things that could potentially let England down this summer. Credit to him, he has been magnificent and has already won the golden glove despite one game remaining in the tournament. Fully warrants a place in my team of the tournament.
Right Back – Joakim Maehle – Denmark 🇩🇰
I would argue that the fullbacks in this team have been two of the most impressive players in the tournament such has been the quality of their displays. Let’s start with Maehle who from left wing back proved to be the most effective attacking force for the Danes during their impressive Euros campaign. Playing as a wing-back has suited Mæhle. He has been able to make the most of the space in front of him, powering down the wing, beating opponents and sending crosses into the box. Only Frenkie de Jong (16) has completed more dribbles than Mæhle (11) at the tournament and, with two goals and one assist to his name already, the approach is evidently working well for him and Denmark. He has flourished on the left for the Danes but is naturally a right footed player so would have few issues slotting in to the right side of my defence.
Right Centre Back – John Stones – England 🏴
What a season it has been for John Stones both domestically and internationally. He had a fantastic campaign for City going on to win the league and being an integral part of an exceptional Manchester City backline. He has continued this exceptional form on to the international stage with England where his composed displays are a big reason behind the three lions having the best defensive record in the tournament. A player of supreme composure and technical quality who, no matter the pressure surrounding a particular match, never allows the occasion to seep into his footballing style.
Left Centre Back – Giorgio Chiellini – Italy 🇮🇹
Now 36 and coming off the back of a serious ACL injury, many questioned whether the Italian captain still had what it took to excel at international level. Fair to say he has answered his critics with his typically heroic defensive displays, celebrating every tackle, block and header like he has scored a goal. Even more important for the Italians is his ability to intimidate and wind-up the opposition to play to their advantage. Prime example was penalties against the Spanish on Tuesday night. Before a coin had been flipped, the contrast in the body language of Chiellini and Jordi Alba was striking. The Italian was loose and calm, joking about and laughing at Alba. Alba was rigid and awkward and watching on you couldn’t help but think the Italians had it won before a ball was even kicked.
Left Back – Leonardo Spinazzola – Italy 🇮🇹
A real shame that the Roma wing-backs tournament was brought to a premature end with the unfortunate injury he picked up against Belgium. For me prior to the injury he was the player of the tournament with hid dynamic attacking runs from the back causing his opponents no end of problems. His teammates showed his importance to them by holding his shirt up and chanting his name in front of the cameras after the win against Spain. It is a real shame he will miss the final but something that England fans will certainly be pleased about!
Defensive Midfield – Jorginho – Italy 🇮🇹
A champions league and potentially a European Championship await for Jorginho should Italy get the job done on Sunday. Quite a contrast for a player who many Chelsea fans wanted out at the start of the Premier League season. Only two players have made more ball recoveries than Jorginho’s 40, and, with the exception of Spanish players, he is tied with John Stones (426) for the most number of passes made in the competition. He is the metronome for the Italians, give him the ball it any situation and know full well he will keep it and progress play up the pitch is an almighty skill. He has been exceptional for the Italians and has to make it in the base of my midfield as a result.
Central Midfield – Pedri – Spain 🇪🇸
This kid can really play can’t he? I have seen bits of him at Barca and read a lot about his potential to be the next big thing at Barca. Alvaro Morata said recently that he is the biggest talent he has ever seen and is sure he will go on to the best midfielder in the world. No one at the tournament was involved in more shot- or goal-creating actions and no one brought the ball into the final third, either through a pass or carrying, more frequently. His display against Italy was quite frankly outrageous for someone of just 18 years of age and he actually went the full 90 minutes without misplacing a pass. He is destined for great things and I am sure we will see his name ringing around the football headlines for years to come.
Central Midfield – Pierre-Emile Hojberg – Denmark 🇩🇰
Predominately known as something of a destroyer around England due to his time at both Southampton and Spurs where he is one of the best at breaking up play. The incident involving Christian Eriksen has meant that Hojberg has been allowed to play in a more advanced role and fair to say he has excelled. In terms of shot-creating actions only Pedri and Lorenzo Insigne rank higher for the tournament. He did all this while still maintaining his natural combative style and ranks fourth in the competition for both tackles and interceptions. He is technically far more gifted than he is given credit for and has enjoyed an excellent summer for the Danes.
Left Wing – Raheem Sterling – England 🏴
There was plenty of noise made by England fans when Sterling was named in the starting lineup for the three lions opening game against Croatia. The calls for the likes of Grealish, Sancho and Rashford to start in his place were deafening and Southgate got plenty of criticism for sticking with the Man City winger after a relatively poor domestic campaign. His ‘redemption’ in this tournament has been clear to see and he is now priced as favourite to win player of the tournament. No one can argue with that and his display particularly against Denmark in the semi-finals was a good an individual display as I have seen all tournament. The 18 opponents he has dribbled beyond — strings of them left looking exceedingly silly in the process — is three more than anyone else in the tournament.
Centre Forward – Patrik Schick – Czech Republic 🇨🇿
Despite their elimination at the quarter-final stage, Schick alongside Cristiano Ronaldo remain top scorers in the tournament with 5 goals apiece. Schick reminded Europe what a fine footballer he is and why despite being just 25 years of age he has already had £70m of transfer fees splashed on him. Capable of brutally dominating a backline with his sizeable frame making him a real aerial presence. Combine that with his exceptional technique and finishing qualities you have the makings of a top centre-forward. He is being linked with a move to the Premier League this summer and I for one would welcome seeing the Czech international play week in, week out.
Right Wing – Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal 🇵🇹
This man needs little introduction but even by his ridiculously high standards he enjoyed a fine tournament. Portugal were always going to have a tough summer with them placed in the Group f Death but it didn’t faze Ronaldo who rattled in 5 goals and alongside Schick remains top scorer at the tournament. Ronaldo is now five goals clear as all-time EURO top scorer after taking his finals goals tally to 14 with two against France on Matchday 3 of UEFA EURO 2020. Despite now being 36 years of age the Juventus man just simply can’t be stopped and continues to prove to the world why he is considered by many as the greatest player of all time.
My Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament
Pickford; Maehle, Stones, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Jorginho, Hojbjerg, Pedri; Cristiano Ronaldo, Sterling, Schick (4-3-3)
