With
a footballing XI in a valid formation (4-4-2 in this instance) it was always
hard to choose a handful of players from 16 different teams and a lot of great
performances.
The
matches generated plenty of heroes and villains so far and few fairytales.
Billed as favorite to be the top scorer, Robin Van Persie has so far failed to
find his footing and so did Cristiano Ronaldo. Ranked outsiders Croatia found a
messiah in Manduzkic and so did France in Mathieu Debuchy.
It's
time to assess the field. So, who were the best players so far in the group
stages?
Here
is my All-Star XI through the first round of Euro Championship group matches.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
MATTS HUMMELS (GERMANY), LUKA MODRIC (CROATIA), ANDREI ARSHAVIN (RUSSIA), XAVI
(SPAIN), MESUT OZIL (GERMANY), DANIELLE DE ROSSI (ITALY), ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO
(UKRAINE), JAKUB BŁASZCZYKOWSKI (POLAND), FRANCK RIBERY (FRANCE), SAMIR NASRI
(FRANCE), SIMON KJAER (DENMARK)
MANUEL NEUER
(GERMANY)
– GK - Germany would have lost or drawn the two matches so far, had it not been
for Manuel Neuer. Made great saves in both matches and kept a clean sheet as
well. He conceded just one goal against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin
van Persie, Klass Jan Huntelaar and Arjen Robben, who are known to score for
fun. Rated as one of the best keepers in the world, Neuer’s heroics couldn’t
have come at a better time.
MATHIEU DEBUCHY
(FRANCE)
– RB - Hugely unknown before the tournament started, Debuchy got his chance to
wear the French shirt after an Injury to Bacary Sagna, which ruled the latter
out of the tournament. A huge shoe to fit in for a player vastly untested at
international level. He has been the best defender for the French side so far.
Helping in the attack, precise tackling and his reading of the game has been
exemplary in this tournament. The Lille player is comfortable across a number
of positions, including right-midfield and centre-midfield, and his displays
have been one of the highlights for Les Bleus so far.
PHILIPP LAHM
(GERMANY)
– LB - No price for guessing why this small German captain is in this list. Be
it his club or country, Lahm has been one of the most consistent performers in
the German shirt. Though he played more than 50 games this season, it doesn’t
seem to affect him. Hard working, great tackling and his overlapping runs down
the flanks creates a constant threat to the opposition more often than not. He
plays a huge part in helping his club and country keeper Neuer clean sheets. He
rarely makes mistakes, runs forward to help the attack when it’s needed and is
always available to sort out defense.
DANIEL AGGER
(DENMARK)
– CB - The Danish captain has lead from the back, he was outstanding in the
victory over the Netherlands, where he kept Dutch goal machine RVP at bay.
Tackling, blocking, winning aerial duels and carrying the ball forward; Agger
has done it all in two matches so far. A loss to Portugal was harsh for them as
they deserved the draw, and once again, Agger showed why he is one of the best
center backs in the Premier League by capping another outstanding performance.
The Danish progress to the next round would depend much on his heroics at the
back. A fine captain by all means, he inspires the team.
SERGIO RAMOS (SPAIN) – CB - Primarily a
full back, Ramos is equally adaptable at playing as a center half. Puyol’s
injury forced him to take this position, which he made his own. He has formed a
great partnership with Gerrard Pique. He has been in an inspirational form of
late for the national side. Though Spain had it relatively easy against
Ireland, but he showed his true versatility against Italy in the opening match.
A lot of Casillas’ clean sheets can be attributed to this no nonsense Real
Madrid defender. Ramos, whilst not doing anything outstandingly memorable, has
been mistake-free and solid in his opening two appearances for Spain.
STEVEN GERRARD
(ENGLAND)
– CM - “Captain fantastic” as he’s been dubbed by the Liverpool fans, he showed
the entire world why he has been called so. Two matches and two outstanding
performances from the English captain, after a dull draw against the French
side where Gerrard was seen defending more than attacking, he stepped up and
provided an inspirational performance against Sweden. He has been England’s best
player by far. Though he hasn’t scored a goal yet, but he has provided two
assists and has been the main anchorman for Roy Hodgson’s side. Helping out
defense and carrying the ball forward to launch an attack, whatever the team
needed, Steven Gerrard was there to provide. There is only one word to sum him
up “Inspirational”.
ANDREA PIRLO (ITALY) – CM - Some might
not agree to his selection over Xavi or Schweinsteiger who have been so
influential in their country’s run in the EURO so far, very few like me must
have noticed that Pirlo has been the best player to don the Italian Blue this
year. He delivered a great performance against and scored a phenomenal goal
from a free kick against Croatia and almost outperformed Xavi and Alonso in the
Midfield against Spain. Italy’s progress will depend a lot on Pirlo’s
performance against Ireland and also to the fact that striker do well to get to
the end of his services.
ANDRES INIESTA
(SPAIN) –
LW - The Barcelona magician who has a knack of turning up at big occasions for
his club and country has done it once again. He forms the Spanish attacking
front with David Silva Torres and Fabregas. Instrumental in Spain’s win over
Ireland and unlucky not to have scored against Italy, Iniesta is one automatic
selection, who has not let anyone (including me) who has faith in him, down. He
has the ability, like Xavi, to control the game from midfield at ease, be it
slowing down the pace or marshalling a quick counter attack.
ALAN DZAGOEV (RUSSIA) – RW - When everyone
was wondering whether or not this 21 year old CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder
get the chance, he came to the tournament with a reputation of having an eye
for the goal and did just what he is famous for. Where Kerzakhov failed,
Dzagoev provided, after scoring 3 goals in 3 games, he has booked his place as
the brightest young star of the tournament in the group stages. Though Russia
failed to qualify for the quarter finals after the shock defeat to Greece last
night, his performance cannot be undermined. He has been a revelation of the
finals this year. No wonder if big clubs come calling after the tournament.
MARIO MANDUZKIC
(CROATIA)
– ST - Two matches, four shots and 3 goals, says it all for the underrated
striker. Nobody would have thought before the EURO began that this Wolfsburg
striker he would lead the Croatian attack let alone leading the scoring charts in
the tournament so far. The 26-year-old Wolfsburg striker has terrified both the
Irish and Italian defences with a couple of brilliant displays. His performance
has given Croatia a huge chance of causing a major upset by qualifying ahead of
Italy for the quarter finals. All possible because of Manduzkic’s three goals
and the heroics of Luka Modric in the center of the park.
MARIO GOMEZ (GERMANY) – ST - Joachim Leow
decided to start with “Big game Choker” Mario Gomez ahead of “the big
tournament specialist” Miroslav Klose on the back of a great season for Bayern
and Gomez has proved that his coach was right on doing so. Highly tipped to be
one of the leading scorers for this tournament, Gomez is the only striker in
this tournament who has lived up to the billing. A perfect center forward, he
looks to put the tag of “Big game choker” to rest in this tournament. Gomez
scored two very well taken goals against the Netherlands and was also on target
against Portugal. In fact, he has scored all the 3 goals for Germany in the
tournament so far.
By Leon Guite
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LEONGUI7E
