Euro 2012 - Team of the Tournament

Football is definitely a team game but it’s hard to ignore the performances of individuals and wonder what it would be like to put them in a team together. With the most anticipated footballing event just coming to an end, here is a look at the eleven players who caught my eye.

1. Goalkeeper (Captain) – Iker Casillas

Casillas was exceptional on the goal-line. His reflexes were brilliant in the game against Croatia in which he made crucial saves. He kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament barring the first group-stage game against Italy. Casillas, now only 31, already has the most caps for his country, and, after the final, holds the record of the most international clean sheets in the history of the game. He also has an unbelievable record of not conceding a goal for over 1000 minutes of international football in the knock-out stages of competitive tournaments. It is high time the value of the goal-keeper is recognized and Casillas is out to show just that.

2. Right Back- Phillip Lahm

Despite Germany choking yet again, Lahm lived up to his tag of the “Best full back of this generation.” He led Germany into his 2^nd successive semi-finals as captain, and defended brilliantly until the game against Italy. Lahm also opened the scoring for Germany in their 4-2 victory over Greece in the quarter-finals.

3. Centre Back- John Terry

Having been surrounded by controversy, and picked over Rio Ferdinand, Terry had some justification to do which he managed superbly. He threw himself at balls, blocking shots and tackling attackers in dangerous scenarios. Terry was the defender who cleared the ball “off the line” with a terrific effort in England’s group stage clash against Ukraine.

4. Centre Back- Sergio Ramos

Ramos had big boots to fill, as he replaced the injured Carlos Puyol as centre-back, rather than playing in his more conventional position at right-back. He made more successful challenges than any other player at Euro 2012, and managed to outshine his colleague, Gerard Pique. Ramos showed his finesse with a brilliant penalty in the shootout against Portugal in the semis, and also took some extremely close free-kicks.

5. Left Back- Fabio Coentrao

A debate arose in my mind when I had to pick a left-back for my team. It was between 3 players but I quickly eliminated Ashley Cole because he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, and had a quiet tournament. Then there was Jordi Alba, the Spaniard who posed to be a bigger attacking threat than his more reputed midfielder team-mates, and also scored in the finals. I however think its Portugal’s Fabio Coentrao who deserves this spot. He was always in the middle of the action, and involved in many of the goals as well. Every move of Portugal began with Coentrao on the left flank and the only thing missing from the wing-back’s inspirational performance was a goal.

6. Central Midfielder- Steven Gerrard

England went into this tournament with injuries and a low morale. Only a few believed England would make any impact at this Euro, and one of them was their captain, Steven Gerrard. Besides being a great captain, Gerrard led from the front with brilliant passes, some of which were converted into goals. He also struck in his penalty in the shootout against Italy but that was the end of road for them in the tournament. Gerrard was definitely England’s best player in Euro 2012, and along with manager Roy Hodgson, he can take the country to new heights in the near future.

7. Central Midfielder- Andrea Pirlo

“Peerless Pirlo,” as he was referred to by the commentators will go down in history as one of the greatest play-makers ever. He has seen it all; from World Cup glory in 2006 in Germany to a heartbreaking first round exit four years later in South Africa. Critics had written off Italy before the tournament began, some even deeming it “the worst Italian side ever.” Pirlo proved them wrong and for him it was the ball that did the talking. At 33, Pirlo still ran around like a 20 year old, his free-kicks and corners as lethal as ever. His “chip penalty” against England showed why his experience makes him invaluable. Pirlo was released by AC Milan last season, and almost immediately grabbed by Juventus with whom he won the league. Milan must be kicking themselves after watching the Euros.

8. Central Attacking Midfielder- Alan Dzagoev

There were many choices for an attacking midfielder, Xavi and Iniesta would be favourites but there is only one spot and separating the two from each other seems cruel; so I decided to go with the young Russian. Dzagoev was joint top-scorer with half a dozen others at 3 goals. His control over the ball and his vision for goal were absolutely breath-taking. It was a pity we got to see him only in three games with Russia’s shocking group stage exit. However, at 22 years, this is just the beginning of a bright career for Dzagoev.

9. Right-Winger- Marco Reus

Another young talent found at Euro 2012 was Germany’s Marco Reus. The winger had already made a name for himself in German football by being part of the Borussia Dortmund squad that were Bundesliga champions last season. He made the most of his opportunities, and by the knock-out stages had replaced Thomas Mueller in Germany’s starting eleven. He found the back of the net in the first game he started, against Greece, in the quarters. Reus came on at half time in the semis when the Germans were down 0-2 and immediately caused problems for the Italians. Though Germany was knocked out, Marco Reus can go home with his head held high.

10. Left-Winger- Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo was Portugal’s one-man army. His dribbling and pace were Netherland’s nightmare in their group stage clash but it was his finishing that put the nail in the Dutch coffin. Ronaldo breezed through with a brace, and carried on his form to the quarters against the Czechs where he drilled in a powerful header past Peter Cech. It was in extra time against Spain in the semi-finals when Ronaldo’s time had come to end all debates once and for all, and show why he was the best player in the world in the form of an excellent goal-scoring opportunity that would send Portugal to the finals, but he fluffed! Portugal went out on penalties but definitely won hearts. As for Ronaldo, it’s definitely his time now. After winning the La Liga with Real Madrid, and a sensational performance with an underdog Portugal side at the Euros, is a second Ballon d’Or on the cards for Ronaldo?

11. Striker- Mario Gomez

The “Super Mario” of my team is not Balotelli but the German striker, Mario Gomez. Though the Golden Boot was stolen from him in the last minutes of the tournament by Torres, Gomez was in impeccable form at Ukraine/Poland this summer. His first touches were deadly, and the finishing was clinical. Substituting Gomez at half time in the semis could have been a mistake by the manager given his current form. The Charlie Sheen look-alike has however cemented his position as first choice striker for Germany over veteran Miroslav Klose at the Euros.

The football leagues are about to kick-off across various countries, it will be interesting to see if the stars of Euro 2012 carry their form and delight fans with the remarkable level of football they have played over the last three weeks.