Euro 2008 Team of the tournament

Vokes

The UEFA Technical Team has named its UEFA EURO 2008™ Team of the Tournament, with no fewer than nine Spanish players being picked in the final 23.


Team breakdown

The nine-strong group of experienced football technicians who have followed every game at the tournament decided the selection – and the success of Luis Aragonés's side was underlined by the fact nine Spain players made the cut, with the remainder of the squad comprising three players from runners-up Germany, four from Russia, two each from the Netherlands and Portugal and a single player representing Turkey, Croatia and Italy.


'Not about reputations'

UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh said: "The Team of the Tournament is something we put into our technical report for our coaching colleagues. We give them pointers on the players that our technical experts have appreciated during this event. This team is very much self-contained in terms of the tournament – this is not about reputations. In fact there are only four players in here who were in our UEFA Champions League team of the competition. It's all very much about the performances in this competition. We haven't included anybody who was knocked out in the group phase."


UEFA EURO 2008™ Team of the Tournament

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands).

Defenders: Bosingwa (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Carlos Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Carles Puyol (Spain), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfielders: Hamit Altıntop (Turkey), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Marcos Senna (Spain), Xavi Hernández (Spain), Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain).

http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=729372.html#spain+dominate+team+tournament

Suprised that Iniesta got in ahead of Silva. But otherwise good lineup.

Mr Alan

cant really argue with most of that.

flanzer

Thought Ramos might have gotten a mention. Although he was a bit shakey at the start, I think he was immence towards the end

Tusky

SofaK wrote: »

http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=729372.html#spain+dominate+team+tournament

Suprised that Iniesta got in ahead of Silva. But otherwise good lineup.

I wouldnt have Iniesta or Silva in the team of the tournament. I think I may be the only one who thought Iniesta was really poor apart from a couple of good moments. He had a bad tournament in my opinion. Surprised so many people picked him as their player euro 08.

Deco should be in there, he was brilliant.

_blank_

Tusky wrote: »

Deco should be in there, he was brilliant.

Even though I hate the slimey little greaseball, I agree with this.

Mikeyt086

Bosingwa?

Jesus. I was shocked by that i thought he was awful and i dont think ive ever seen anyone give the ball away more. Also the fact that he got in ahead of Sergio Ramos.

_blank_

IS there a decent, top quality Right Full in European football at the minute?

Vokes

Actually, thought Corluka, Lahm and maybe Zambrotta were mostly decent and better than Boswinga.

Smegball

DesF wrote: »

IS there a decent, top quality Right Full in European football at the minute?

Wes Brown

~Rebel~

thought Podolski probably deserved a place.

[edit] had only looked at the strikers, just realised he's included in the midfielders. nevermind, nothing to see here.

joker77

SofaK wrote: »

Actually, thought Corluka, Lahm and maybe Zambrotta were mostly decent and better than Boswinga.

+1 for that - all 3 were better than Bosingwa

Good to see the toe rag Ronaldo not making the team

Mr.Nice Guy

Not a bad list but not having Arda and having Zyryanov in there ahead of him strikes me as ridiculous.

Bubs101

I think Chiellini and Panucci are certainly deserving of a mention, when they came in Italy only conceded once in 300 minutes of football and Panucci even scored.

Pepe LeFrits

DesF wrote: »

IS there a decent, top quality Right Full in European football at the minute?

Plenty!

As far as DMs go I was very impressed by Switzerland's Gokhan Inler, but his side going out first didn't really lend to his chances of winning the plaudits.

Steve_o

My XI would be:

..........................Gianluigi Buffon

Bosingwa.....Carles Puyol......Yuri Zhirkov....Phillip Lahm

Cesc Fabregas......Xavi.....Michael Ballack.....Wesley Sneijder

..........Fernando Torres.......David Villa

Smegball

Steve_o wrote: »

My XI would be:

..........................Gianluigi Buffon

Bosingwa.....Carles Puyol......Yuri Zhirkov....Phillip Lahm

Cesc Fabregas......Xavi.....Michael Ballack.....Wesley Sneijder

..........Fernando Torres.......David Villa

Zhirkov as centre back

I didn't think Torres was that great either apart from last night, Pavlyuchenko was much better IMO.
Otherwise no other real arguments with that team.
Maybe Arshavin instead of Ballack

Steve_o

Smegball wrote: »

Zhirkov as centre back

Figured he had to be in the team and centre back is the only place I could fit him in....no other reason tbh.

It is true that Pavlyuchenko was very good, I think Torres just edged it, definitely think Ballack is worth his place.