Another summer filled with footballing excitement thanks to the European Championship came to a close this past Sunday. Spain triumphant, and England in despair after losing a second consecutive Euros final. For some, this tournament could prove to be a breaking point in their careers, for others it was the closing performance of what has already been a glorious footballing journey. As always, we’ve decided to create a lineup of highest-rated players in the tournament, an ideal XI, so let’s see who made the cut!
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan, France – Rating: 7.30
With 4 clean sheets in 6 appearances, Milan’s goalkeeper was the only one at this year’s tournament to reach that number of games without conceding. However, two of the three goals he conceded came in the semifinal against Spain and proved to much for his team to turn around. He was an important factor for France as he ended up having quite some work to do, accumulating 16 saves and preventing 2.42 goals. His most impressive performance came against Portugal, in the Round of 16, where he had 4 saves and prevented 1.18 goals.
Right-back: Joshua Kimmich, Germany – Rating: 7.74
Much like in the group stage, Kimmich provided Germany with confidence, ability and stability on the right side of the pitch. He was a big part of Nagelsmann’s offensive set up, and he repaid the trust – he set up Wirtz’s late equaliser against Spain that sent the game to extra-time. Recording 2 assists, creating 3 big chances and having 3 key passes each game, all whilst following it up with an average of 4.6 balls recovered per game really tells you all you need to know about Kimmich’s importance on both ends of the field.
Right centre-back: Rúben Dias, Portugal – Rating: 7.30
The Portuguese defender played the whole tournament paired with veteran Pepe, the tournament’s oldest player, and you could say that they did a pretty good job. However, Portugal learned that even keeping two clean sheets in two knockout stage games doesn’t guarantee you go through. Dias was instrumental for Portugal’s progression and build-up in the first phase, ammassing 95 passes per game while maintaining an accuracy of 94%. He also managed to win 6.3 duels per game with a success rate just short of 58%.
Left centre-back: Antonio Rüdiger, Germany – Rating: 7.30
Much like his centre-back partner in his lineup, Antonio Rüdiger earned his spot in this team due to the importance he carried when his team had the ball, which, to be fair, was most of the time. He was on the ball somewhat less than Dias, with an average of 73.4 passes per game (92% accuracy), but Germany relied a lot on his long range passing, as he was often looking to play long balls behind the defence once his forwards made the runs. That’s exactly how he set up a big chance against Hungary, playing an excellent ball to Kai Havertz couldn’t convert it to a goal. His aerial presence, as always, was very formidable throughout the tournament, especially when it came to defending the box, with 3,6 clearances per game.
Left-back: Marc Cucurella, Spain – Rating: 7.52
One of the outstanding performers of the tournament was certainly not someone many people would have put their money on making this team before the tournament’s start. In fact, many haven’t even seen him as his country’s first choice at left-back after the season Alejandro Grimaldo had with Leverkusen. However, Cucurella came to Germany ready to play and showed his very best version. He set up his teammates with three big chances, but only Mikel Oyarzabal managed to convert his one. Luckily for Spain, it happened in the dying minutes of the very final. Besides the threat his crosses carried, Cucurella did pretty much everything you could ask for from your fullback – 90% passing accuracy, 88% passing accuracy on the opposition’s half, 5.5 duels won per game (63% success rate) and 3.5 ball recoveries per game. Brutal.
Defensive midfielder: Toni Kroos, Germany – Rating: 7.76
One of the biggest names of the last decade hung up his boots after Germany went down to Spain in the quarterfinal. And, like everything else Toni Kroos does, he did it with style and impeccable class. Accepting Nagelsmann’s call to return to the national team earlier this year, Kroos immediately became the focal point of it. Die Mannschaft moved when, where and how Toni wanted. With 487 passes completed in 5 games he is the second player with most accurate passes on the Euros, surpassed only by John Stones who played two more matches than he did. Of course, the accuracy of those passes was at a staggering 94%. With 118.2 touches per game he was, pretty much, always on the ball. And when he wasn’t, he made sure to get it back ASAP, with 6.8 ball recoveries per game. A season for the ages by the German maestro with a finish to match.
Defensive midfielder: Fabián Ruiz, Spain – Rating: 7.92
Similar to his teammate Cucurella, a player who wasn’t in too many talks ahead of the championship took the stage by storm and ended up being the tournament’s highest-rated player. A footballer whose ability and talent were never a matter of question, but as someone who lacked the consistency of outsanding performances, never made it to the big boys’ table. Well, it’s fair to say that in Germany, Ruiz was sitting at a table of his own. Starting with the first game and a goal and an assist against Croatia. Then he did the same against Georgia, meanwhile averaging nearly three shots per game and creating three big chances in the process. Fabián Ruiz was the ultimate midfielder during the Euros, and could really do it all. Whether it was putting his opponents into good situations, joining the attack and finishing it in the opponent’s box, dropping deep to make the progression of the ball easier… Whatever the task, Ruiz was there to complete it. And it’s more than fitting that he leaves Germany with the ultimate prize.
Right wing: Bernardo Silva, Portugal – Rating: 7.68
Consistency. That might be the word that best fits Bernardo Silva’s game. Whenever he is on the pitch, his manager just knows that he can count on relentless running and movement, whether it’s to press the opposition, open up space for the teammates or exploit the space behind the defence, Bernardo Silva will always deliver. He delivered with all of that and managed to get on the scoresheet during the Euros. He also managed to create a big chance, averaged 2.5 key passes per game and won 3.3 duels each game whilst recovering 3 balls. Few players in today’s game can offer an all-around performance at the level of Bernardo Silva.
Attacking midfielder: Dani Olmo, Spain – Rating: 7.77
The story of Spain’s best performers at this tournament seems to have a pattern – an unlikely hero arrives and takes the team to glory. With Dani Olmo, at least, it was very much the case. Olmo wasn’t De la Fuente’s first choice. He started their last group stage game against Albania and lit the stage, setting up the game’s only goal and ending the match as the highest-rated player. He replaced Pedri against Georgia in the second half and scored again. Then, when Pedri was forced to leave the field after just 8 minutes against Germany, it was Olmo’s time to shine. He scored the opener and assisted for Merino’s dramatic late winner and then went on to score in the semifinal against France yet again. A humble, hard-working offensive midfielder graced with the elegant, silky Spanish touch, Olmo ended the tournament on a high, finishing it as one of the top goalscorers. He also became the first Spaniard to score in three consecutive Euro knockout matches.
Left wing: Cody Gakpo, The Netherlands – Rating: 7.73
Cody Gakpo at major tournaments for The Netherlands is just on another level. And in Germany, he proved it yet again. Starting out from the wide left position, he was an equal of a threat both cutting inside or beating his man down the line. He got himself a total of three goals and added an assist, and three more big chances that he managed to create for his teammates. The Netherlands enjoyed a good run in Germany, falling down to England in the dying minutes of the semifinal, and with Gakpo’s form both on these Euros and in the last World Cup, the future looks quite decent.
Centre-forward: Kylian Mbappé, France – Rating: 7.44
Even though he wasn’t at his usual best for France, Kylian Mbappé still managed to guide Les Blues to another major international semifinal. He didn’t have too much luck in front of the goal, but he was a constant menace. He recorded the most shots, third-most shots on target and no player has completed more dribbles at the Euros than the French number 10. Dealing with him, as always, was a big problem.
