Post by ange postecoslamp on Jun 28, 2016 9:54:13 GMT
G. Buffon (ITA)
A. Barzagli (ITA) - L. Bonucci (ITA) - G. Chiellini (ITA)
D. Srna (CRO) - T. Kroos (GER) - A. Iniesta (ESP) - J. Blaszczykowski (POL)
E. Hazard (BEL)
G. Bale (WAL) - G. Pelle (ITA)
A. Barzagli (ITA) - L. Bonucci (ITA) - G. Chiellini (ITA)
D. Srna (CRO) - T. Kroos (GER) - A. Iniesta (ESP) - J. Blaszczykowski (POL)
E. Hazard (BEL)
G. Bale (WAL) - G. Pelle (ITA)
Goalkeeper & Centre Backs - Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Leandro Bonucci & Giorgio Chiellini, Italy
Buffon remains the one of two goalkeepers (Manuel Neuer) yet to concede at the Euros. His inclusion over the world's best isn't necessarily on direct merit, but on the way that the Juventus axis of this Italy side has been their driving force. When the four players named above have all played together, they have stifled the potent attacks of both Spain's tiki taka and Belgium's direct dribbling and incisive runs, while also acting as an experienced and decisive platform for launching attacks forward. While individuals -like Spain's Gerard Pique, Belgium's Toby Alderweireld and France's Laurent Koscielny - have arguably outperformed any given one of the defenders, as a unit they are peerless.
Right Wing Back - Darijo Srna, Croatia
In a team full of talented players, Srna stood out as a marauding right back with a devastating delivery, be it from set pieces or crosses. While designated within the Croatia side as a full back proper, Srna's play style and ability marks him out as a perfect fit as a box-to-box wing back.
Left Wing Back - Jakub Blaszczykowski, Poland
While deployed as a more conventional right midfielder for Poland, Kuba (look, I've typed his surname twice, I'm not doing it again) has played for Dortmund in the past as a similar marauding wing back. His ability to use both feet enables a more comfortable switch to the left side than Srna, where he'd offer an attacking threat able to beat his man outside and cross in, or cut inside and score, demonstrated by his Polish-best two goals at the finals thus far.
Central Midfield - Toni Kroos, Germany
The centre of midfield has been a position of widespread quality at these Euros, with Croatia's Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, Spain's Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas, England's Eric Dier, Italy's Daniele De Rossi, France's Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba, and Kroos' German teammate Sami Khedira all looking excellent in their roles as the key distributors of passes in the heart of a side. None, however, have quite reached the levels of Toni Kroos, who has run the field in each of Germany's games with aplomb. In this system, with wing backs charging forwards, a floating Eden Hazard and the perpetually unmarked Andres Iniesta providing options, there is none better to pick the right pass to the right player than Kroos.
Central Midfield - Andres Iniesta, Spain
Yes, Spain are out, while several of the players named above remain in the tournament. Yet none have the elusive quality that Andres Iniesta brings to every major international tournament he plays in. The perfect bridge between midfield and attack, able to find space, thread impossible through balls or beat defenders himself, Iniesta is the creative influence this side needs.
Attacking Midfield - Eden Hazard, Belgium
After a team performance in their opening 2-0 loss to Italy that failed to inspire, Belgium have kicked on and become one of the more dominant forces in the competition, with a trio of sweeping victories. None quite compared the dominant 4-0 win over Hungary on Saturday, where Hazard put in what was undoubtedly the individual performance of the tournament thus far, capping off a night where he terrorised the Hungarian defence with a superb goal. In a free-floating attacking midfield role, there has been none better than Hazard this Euros.
Supporting Striker - Gareth Bale, Wales
While not a traditional striker, Bale's range of goalscoring qualities; from headers, through strikes from distance, to free kicks that Joe Hart really should save and crosses so good that the defender can't help but finish them, make him an unavoidable choice as the foil to Graziano Pelle's more conventional centre forward role.
Centre Forward - Graziano Pelle, Italy
Yeah, OK. Pelle hasn't been outstanding, but as out and out strikers go, who has? Pelle's role in holding up the play, movement in the box and finishing ability make him the right choice here. With supply coming from all angles in this setup (dare we say it, Eden Hazard is better than Giaccherini), Pelle's familiarity with the system and what's required of him in this role would be amplified into a veritable goalscoring machine.
Disagree with my choices? Fight me irl or post yours itt.
Buffon remains the one of two goalkeepers (Manuel Neuer) yet to concede at the Euros. His inclusion over the world's best isn't necessarily on direct merit, but on the way that the Juventus axis of this Italy side has been their driving force. When the four players named above have all played together, they have stifled the potent attacks of both Spain's tiki taka and Belgium's direct dribbling and incisive runs, while also acting as an experienced and decisive platform for launching attacks forward. While individuals -like Spain's Gerard Pique, Belgium's Toby Alderweireld and France's Laurent Koscielny - have arguably outperformed any given one of the defenders, as a unit they are peerless.
Right Wing Back - Darijo Srna, Croatia
In a team full of talented players, Srna stood out as a marauding right back with a devastating delivery, be it from set pieces or crosses. While designated within the Croatia side as a full back proper, Srna's play style and ability marks him out as a perfect fit as a box-to-box wing back.
Left Wing Back - Jakub Blaszczykowski, Poland
While deployed as a more conventional right midfielder for Poland, Kuba (look, I've typed his surname twice, I'm not doing it again) has played for Dortmund in the past as a similar marauding wing back. His ability to use both feet enables a more comfortable switch to the left side than Srna, where he'd offer an attacking threat able to beat his man outside and cross in, or cut inside and score, demonstrated by his Polish-best two goals at the finals thus far.
Central Midfield - Toni Kroos, Germany
The centre of midfield has been a position of widespread quality at these Euros, with Croatia's Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, Spain's Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas, England's Eric Dier, Italy's Daniele De Rossi, France's Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba, and Kroos' German teammate Sami Khedira all looking excellent in their roles as the key distributors of passes in the heart of a side. None, however, have quite reached the levels of Toni Kroos, who has run the field in each of Germany's games with aplomb. In this system, with wing backs charging forwards, a floating Eden Hazard and the perpetually unmarked Andres Iniesta providing options, there is none better to pick the right pass to the right player than Kroos.
Central Midfield - Andres Iniesta, Spain
Yes, Spain are out, while several of the players named above remain in the tournament. Yet none have the elusive quality that Andres Iniesta brings to every major international tournament he plays in. The perfect bridge between midfield and attack, able to find space, thread impossible through balls or beat defenders himself, Iniesta is the creative influence this side needs.
Attacking Midfield - Eden Hazard, Belgium
After a team performance in their opening 2-0 loss to Italy that failed to inspire, Belgium have kicked on and become one of the more dominant forces in the competition, with a trio of sweeping victories. None quite compared the dominant 4-0 win over Hungary on Saturday, where Hazard put in what was undoubtedly the individual performance of the tournament thus far, capping off a night where he terrorised the Hungarian defence with a superb goal. In a free-floating attacking midfield role, there has been none better than Hazard this Euros.
Supporting Striker - Gareth Bale, Wales
While not a traditional striker, Bale's range of goalscoring qualities; from headers, through strikes from distance, to free kicks that Joe Hart really should save and crosses so good that the defender can't help but finish them, make him an unavoidable choice as the foil to Graziano Pelle's more conventional centre forward role.
Centre Forward - Graziano Pelle, Italy
Yeah, OK. Pelle hasn't been outstanding, but as out and out strikers go, who has? Pelle's role in holding up the play, movement in the box and finishing ability make him the right choice here. With supply coming from all angles in this setup (dare we say it, Eden Hazard is better than Giaccherini), Pelle's familiarity with the system and what's required of him in this role would be amplified into a veritable goalscoring machine.
Disagree with my choices? Fight me irl or post yours itt.
