The group stage at the 2016 installment of the European Championship was packed full of decisive and dramatic late goals – with the tournament’s new format ensuring all was left to play for on the third matchday for most of the participating nations.
The round of 16 kicks-off in Saint Etienne with Switzerland vs. Poland, but here Outside90 casts an eye over the best 11 performers to come out of the initial cauldron.
Goalkeeper – Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Iceland)
A fairytale story was written with Iceland’s qualification for the Euro 2016 Finals and the fact they jave advanced to the knockout stage from a group featuring the Ballon d’Or winner and an Austrian side undefeated in qualifying is quite remarkable. Germany and Poland are the two yet to concede a goal in France, but it is Halldórsson’s tournament – leading with 19 saves, which have been pivotal for the Nordic nation.
Right-back – Lukasz Piszczek (Poland)
The Polish right-back has carried his excellent club form – that saw him named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season – onto the international stage. He has combined up and down the flank with Borussia Dortmund teammate ‘Kuba’ Blaszczykowski to great effect and has played a key role in three successive clean sheets for the impressive Polish outfit.
Centre-back – Leo Bonucci (Italy)
Much has been written about the lack of star quality in the midfield and attacking lines for the Italians – but it certainly remains at the back in the form of the experienced Juventus trio. Bonucci just edges out the other two for his inclusion here, but this impressive Italian team very nearly saw an all-Azzurri back three included on the sheet.
Centre-back – Fabian Schar (Switzerland)
The Group Stage proved Switzerland would struggle to find the net with a massive regularity, meaning their organisation at the back was of paramount importance. Schar scored the only goal in a narrow win over Albania which virtually sealed their progression – presenting a danger at both ends.
Left-back – Jordi Alba (Spain)
Alongside the much-needed width he provides to Vicente del Bosque’s reigning champions, Alba also added attacking quality to his list of attributes on display in France. He has already laid on one goal – and with Sevilla’s Nolito beginning to fire – Spain has an extremely potent left- side.
READ MORE: 20 of the best images from the Euro 2016 group stage [GALLERY]
Central-midfield – Andres Iniesta (Spain)
The Spanish maestro shows no signs of slowing down, despite now being 32-years of age at what could well be his final European Championships – providing all the more reason to enjoy his performances. He has misplaced just 19 of his 284 group stage passes and his ability to not just get himself out of trouble, but evade his opponents and immediately be on the attack, still remains.
Central-midfield – Toni Kroos (Germany)
The second UEFA Champions League winner present in this XI, the former Bayern Munich man has played an immense role in controlling the tempo of the World Champion Die Mannschaft – who progressed following a solid yet unspectacular Group Stage. Kroos’s passing percentage of 93% is a tournament best.
Attacking-midfield – Dimitri Payet (France)
A stunning debut season in the English Premier League has transferred back across the channel for his national side and the host nation would have been locked in a tighter battle to advance from the group if it were not for his late, great screamers.
Right-wing – Gareth Bale (Wales)
The toughest aspect to the inclusion of the Welshman came when deciding which position to sit aside his name – he has been unstoppable for periods of each clash thus far and is relishing his license to completely roam free for manager Chris Coleman. Wales have a favourable tie coming up with Northern Ireland, and if Bale can find space from the quarter-finals onwards, the chance for a Welsh fairytale could remain in-tact.
Left-wing – Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
Inter Milan’s biggest investment in the last off-season enjoyed a great debut during Serie A in the capital, and is now a star utility internationally. Possessing a combination of pace, acceleration, height and a finishing ability means he is capable of playing wide, at No.10, or up front. It is this unpredictability that adds another dimension to a Croatian side on the favourable end of the knockout draw.
Striker – Alvaro Morata (Spain)
The current Golden Boot leader picks himself in this XI with his clinical ability to finish off the delightful interplay present from the Spanish once they get up into the final-third. His side’s first of three goals against Turkey in their second group match is likely to be the team goal of the tournament.
Honorable mentions go to – Lukasz Fabianski, Sime Vrsaljko, Sergio Ramos, Aaron Ramsey, Ivan Rakitic, Mesut Ozil, Romelu Lukaku.
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