Scott Wilson selects his Team of the Tournament for Euro 2024
GOALKEEPER
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)
As one of the stars of the group stages, Mamardashvili was central to Georgia’s passage through to the last 16 at their first major tournament. The Valencia shot-stopper produced a string of fine stops, with his tally of 29 saves still nine higher than that of any other goalkeeper at the tournament even though he exited after just four games. His best performance came in his side’s spirited draw with Czechia where he was deservedly named Man of the Match.
DEFENDERS
JOSHUA KIMMICH (GERMANY)
Kimmich has played in a variety of different positions for Germany during his international career, but restored to the right-hand side, he repeatedly caught the eye on home soil. The 29-year-old was rock solid defensively in all of his matches, and also got forward to good effect, most notably when setting up Florian Wirtz’s late equaliser in the quarter-final defeat to Spain. Little wonder that most of Europe’s big clubs are being linked with a potential move for his services this summer.
WILLIAM SALIBA (FRANCE)
Prior to their semi-final against Spain, the French defence had been pretty much impenetrable, largely thanks to the consistent excellence of Saliba, who carried his superb club form with Arsenal into the Euros. Calm, composed and seemingly always in the right position, Saliba was part of a French defence that was the best in the tournament before they finally wobbled in the last four. Even in the defeat to Spain, though, Saliba was the French player just about holding things together in the face of an attacking onslaught.
MARC GUEHI (ENGLAND)
Guehi was supposed to be a weak link in the England team, having only been handed a place in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI because of the absence of the injured Harry Maguire. Playing alongside John Stones, though, the Crystal Palace centre-half has been the star performer in an England defence that has remained pretty much watertight throughout all its matches. A succession of key blocks have been crucial to his side’s progress, with Guehi making a number of decisive penalty-box tackles against the Dutch on Wednesday night.
MARC CUCURELLA (SPAIN)
He might have been somewhat unheralded heading into the tournament, and he hasn’t always been able to hold down a place in the Chelsea starting line-up, let alone the Spain team, but Cucurella has been the best left-back at the Euros. Brilliant in the group win over Italy, and equally as influential in the knockout successes over Germany and France, the Spaniard has combined defensive reliability with a potent attacking threat breaking down the left flank.
MIDFIELDERS
ARDA GULER (TURKEY)
This has been a tournament brimming with young talent, and Guler was one of the brightest stars prior to Turkey’s exit in the quarter-finals. The 19-year-old impressed in his side’s opening group game with Georgia, scoring with a superb long-range strike, and really came into his own in the last-16 win over Austria, where he ran the game in midfield. Another assist followed in the quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.
RODRI (SPAIN)
What is there to say about the Manchester City midfielder that has not already been said? N’Golo Kante earned rave reviews in France’s opening game, but Rodri quickly reclaimed his crown as the best holding midfielder in the world. He is crucial to the way Spain play, holding things together defensively while also launching lightning-fast counter-attacks. His tally of 382 passes completed puts him in the top three midfielders in the tournament.
JAMAL MUSIALA (GERMANY)
Another youngster who has shone in the last month, 21-year-old Musiala was the beating heart of a German side that exceeded most pre-tournament predictions. He was the star of the opening-night demolition of Scotland, slamming home his side’s second goal, and netted again in Germany’s group win over Hungary and last-16 success over Denmark. A former England Under-21 international, the dual national is definitely one that got away.
FORWARDS
LAMINE YAMAL (SPAIN)
A shoo-in for the Young Player of the Tournament award, and an extremely strong candidate for the overall Player of the Tournament honour too. The 16-year-old had already caught the eye prior to Spain’s semi-final against France, with his tally of three assists from the right-hand side higher than that of any other player at the Euros. It was his first tournament goal that marked him out as a truly special talent though, as he curled a long-range strike into the top left-hand corner to level the game with France.
HARRY KANE (ENGLAND)
Surely not? Okay, so the England skipper has not been at his absolute best in Germany. But which centre-forwards have impressed? And while Kane has had his critics, he still heads into tomorrow’s final as the tournament’s joint-highest scorer, and with every chance of claiming the Golden Boot. His reflexes within the 18-yard box remain as sharp as ever, and unlike a certain Portuguese centre-forward, he is ultra-reliable from the penalty spot.
CODY GAKPO (NETHERLANDS)
Like Kane, Gakpo sits joint-top of the scoring charts with three goals. While Memphis Depay tended to play as the Netherlands’ central stiker, it was Gakpo breaking in from the left that carried the greatest goal threat. The Liverpool forward scored in his side’s opening-game win over Poland, and netted again in the defeat to Austria. His best effort came against Romania in the last 16 though, as he darted infield before slamming the ball home at the near post.
SUBSTITUTES
Jordan Pickford (England), Fabian Schar (Switzerland), Riccardo Calafiori (Italy), Dani Olmo (Spain), Fabian Ruiz (Spain), Bukayo Saka (England), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia).
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