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Euro 2016: Sport360's Team of the Tournament

Sport360 staff 08:54 12/07/2016
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UEFA selected their best XI of Euro 2016 but here’s our own dream team of 11 starters plus seven substitutes who were the premier performers in their positions over the last month.

We took into consideration: overall contribution to their team, consistency and impact on matches…

Starting XI (4-3-3)

Hugo Lloris (France) – Until the semi-final against Germany, Lloris’ brilliance had largely gone unnoticed but he was there every time to make crucial saves that kept his side in games. His stop from Joshua Kimmich in the last four was stunning.

Darijo Srna (Croatia) – The Croats limp last 16 exit to Portugal was deeply disappointing, but throughout it all Srna was their best defender and an inspirational force as he bowed out from international duty.

Pepe (Portugal) – A colossus at the back for Portugal – the area of the pitch so integral to their play. His crowning moment was the final where he intercepted possession 17 times and made a series of crucial tackles and blocks.

Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) – You’ll struggle to find a better, more complete defender in the world. Dominant in the air, His reading of the game is also exceptional while his long passing was crucial to Antonio Conte’s overall strategy.

Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal) – At 22, Portugal have their left-back position sorted for the rest of the decade. Although his attacking play catches the eye, what was most impressive is that when he lost the ball or his man, he always tried to recover.

Jakub Blaszczykowski (Poland) – He slipped under the radar a little due to Poland’s largely dour approach but ‘Kuba’ was their best player, scoring two goals and delivering an assist. At least a 7/10 in each of their games.

Toni Kroos (Germany) – You can probably count on one hand the amount of passes wasted by Kroos in this tournament. An absolute midfield masterclass, with his display in the first half against France particularly outstanding.

Nani (Portugal) – While Cristiano Ronaldo drifted in and out of the tournament, Nani was a constant threat, showing the dribbling and finishing skills that marked him out as such a talent in his youth.

Aaron Ramsey (Wales) – You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone… Ramsey’s absence was a huge blow for Wales in their semi-final against Portugal and they were simply unable to compensate for his energy and craft in the middle of the park.

Antoine Griezmann (France) – Had a strange tournament as he started poorly, was dropped and then came alive emphatically, becoming the posterboy for France. Six goals is the most for any player at one Euros since Platini’s nine in 1984.

Gareth Bale (Wales) – His goals were vital in securing Wales top spot in Group B, but most of his good work largely went unseen as his mere presence on the field saw defenders drawn to him like limpets, opening up the space for team-mates.

Euro2016-Team-of-Tournament

SUBSTITUTES: GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), CB: Ragnar Sigurdsson (Iceland), CB: Jose Fonte (Portugal), MF: Renato Sanches (Portugal), MF: Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland), AM: Dimitri Payet (France), FWD: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).

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