Euro 2012: My Team of the Tournament

Lots of Spaniards in my team of the tournament – but it’s not striker-less. I have opted for a very attacking, but balanced 4-2-3-1.

Here goes:

Goal
Gianluigi Buffon lived up to his reputation while the young pair of Joe Hart and Manuel Neuer enhanced theirs, but there’s no doubt that IKER CASILLAS was the pick of the lot. True, Spain’s possession game meant he was seldom called upon, but his few interventions were crucial. Two saves in the crucial group decider against Croatia kept Spain in the game – in the tournament, perhaps – and his penalty save in the semi-final came at just the right time, after Xabi Alonso had missed Spain’s first kick. He also made a few stops to keep the Italians at bay in the final.

Right Back
Not too many stood out in this position but Czech Republic’s Halle Gebre Sellasie, and Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy deserve a mention. My pick though is England’s GLEN JOHNSON, and it’s based largely on his defensive performance in England’s four matches. Johnson put in several last ditch defensive stops as England sat back – exemplified by the superb block that denied Antonio Nocerino from close range in the quarter final clash with Italy.

Left Back
I struggled with this one. Spain’s Jordi Alba staked his claim very strongly, especially in the quarter finals and with that superb goal in the final, but I have to give this one to Portugal’s FABIO COENTRAO, who carried a similar attacking threat but proved a stronger asset on the defensive side. Germany’s Phillip Lahm, as always, had a decent tournament, but blotted his copybook against Italy.

Centre Backs
Germany’s Mat Hummels looked very impressive – until Cassano got away from him in the semi-final – and Portugal’s Pepe was solid and restrained throughout. Even Italy’s Daniele de Rossi proved an assured option when he filled in against Spain. But I couldn’t bring myself to separate the tournaments meanest defensive pairing: Spain’s GERARD PIQUE and SERGIO RAMOS. Calm under pressure, tough when necessary and especially impressive in the way they passed their way out of trouble.

Defensive Midfield
He’s not strictly defensive, but XABI ALONSO was head and shoulders above the competition here. The Real Madrid man epitomised the selfless box-to-box midfielder with his energetic performances. Always on hand to help his defence deal with threats, he still found the lungs to get in the box and head home Spain’s opener in the quarter finals. Portugal’s Miguel Veloso also caught the eye, as did the German Sami Khedira, and the quietly effective Sergio Busquets.

Playmaker
ANDREA PIRLO rolled back the years to remind everyone why he had run AC Milan’s midfield through 3 Champions League finals, and had been man of the match when Italy won the World Cup six years ago. Despite playing from deep, Pirlo was Italy’s most creative outlet and he was simply unplayable in both the quarter finals and the semi-finals. England’s Steven Gerrard is worth a mention for his contributions to England’s cause through the first round.

Right Midfield
It’s not his usual position – he usually favours the left - but the highly adaptable ANDREAS INIESTA can hardly be assigned a usual position. At the heart of his country’s best attacking moves, the slight Barca man had another impressive tournament, deservedly walking off with the best player award.

Centre Midfield
Spain’s Xavi came to life in the final with two impressive assists, but I can’t look beyond the mercurial German MESUT OZIL. His immaculate first touch and drifting dribbling runs was a thing of beauty even in the semi-final loss to Italy. And his tendency to drift right and left would dovetail perfectly with Iniesta in this line up.

Left Midfield
RONALDO was left holding the can after Portugal crashed out in the semis, and his last minute miss probably cost his team that game. But CR7 put in a couple of commanding performances before that. He always carried a goal threat, bashing a tournament high 13 shots on target and hitting the woodwork a few times to boot. His goals proved the difference against the Dutch and the Czechs.

Forward
No one forward was consistently brilliant here. Mario Gomez looked the business after two matches, but eventually fizzled out in the semis; Fernando Torres took home the Golden Boot without ever being regular; and Antonio Cassano, for all his trickery, scored just once. Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic also looked sharp, but only lasted the first round. MARIO BALOTELLI gets the nod for a commanding semi-final performance against Germany. The finishing on that second goal was something special. Cesc Fabregas – two goals and two assists as a “False Nine” – is certainly deserving of a mention.

So, there you have it. My team of the tournament:

Casillas (Spa);

Johnson(Eng), Pique(Spa), Ramos(Spa), Coentrao(Por);

Xabi Alonso(Spa), Pirlo(Ita);

Iniesta(Spa), Ozil(Ger), Ronaldo(Por);

Balotelli(Ita)