As voted by the fans, UEFA have released the best European Championship starting XI, based on the history of the tournament.
The footballing governing body gave the public a total of 50 candidates to choose from based on players who fill at least two of the following requirements…
i. Appeared in at least a semi-final;
ii. Figured in a Team of the Tournament;
iii. Finished a Euro tournament as top scorer;
iv. Produced an iconic Euro moment, such as the ‘Panenka’ penalty in 1976, Marco van Basten’s volley from 1988 and Davor Šuker’s chip in 1996
As was described, “the winning team was chosen based on votes cast on Euro2016.com and Twitter, with more than 3.5 million in all.”
1. Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
In goal, the ever-present Italian keeper beat compatriot Dino Zoff, Iker Casillas, Lev Yashin and Peter Schmeichel to be voted as the greatest ever European Championship stopper, despite never actually having won the tournament.
Buffon will be playing in his fourth edition of the tournament, twice earning a place in the Team of the Tournament, including four years ago when he captained the Azzurri to a runners-up spot.
2. Defender Paolo Maldini
Like Buffon, Maldini played in three tournaments, the last one in 2000 where he was the skipper as Italy lost in the final to France’s golden goal winner. The cultured defender first played in 1988, making 13 appearances in total.
Maldini is one of the most celebrated defenders of all time, but could not add the European Championship to his collection of honours, leaving him as trophy-less when it comes to his international career.
3. Defender: Franz Beckenbauer
The legendary German defender was the finest defender of his generation and the skipper role was moulded around his game. Beckebauer was a European Championship winner in 1972, two years before he would lead his side to World Cup glory as well.
“Der Kaiser” played in two tournaments in total, but after initial success, lost out in the 1976 final to Czechoslovakia, a game in which he made his 100th international cap for the West German side.
4. Defender: Carles Puyol
Unlike many of his comrades, Puyol only got to lift the European Championship on one occasion, in 2008, with the Barcelona centre back injured for Spain’s continued success four years later.
The loyal defender was instrumental at the heart of the Spanish defence in Austria and Switzerland in 2008 and helped to keep a clean sheet in the final, as they defeated Germany 1-0.
5. Defender: Philip Lahm
Retiring after lifting the World Cup as captain in 2014, Lahm is also remembered as legend of European Championships. The full back played in three separate tournaments, coming closest in 2008 where Germany finished as runners-up to Spain.
Lahm was selected in the Team of the Tournament in both 2008 and 2012, the latter of which, Germany fell to Italy at the semi final stage, leaving Lahm to always ponder what it would be like to lift the Euro trophy.
6. Midfielder: Andres Iniesta
Chosen ahead of his partner in crime Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta is a two time winner of the European Championships and will be part of a Spanish side that is aiming to make history in becoming the first nation to win three consecutive Euros.
Voted the best player of the 2012 edition, Iniesta had already won the tournament four years earlier and in between, the Barcelona playmaker had scored the winning goal for Spain in their first World Cup win.
7. Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo
Despite not being selected for this summer’s Euros, Andrea Pirlo has been the fulcrum of every Italy side of the last three tournaments, making a total of 11 appearances and scoring two goals.
The former Inter, AC and Juventus playmaker has won almost every honour there is to win within the sport but could only lead his side to second place in 2012, where an audacious “panenka” penalty saw off England in the quarter finals.
8. Midfielder: Zinedine Zidane
Undoubtedly one of the finest players in football history and arguably the best in the annuls of the European Championships, Zidane won the competition in 2000 as France’s influential force and eventually Player of the Tournament.
The genius midfielder was equally key to Les Blues in both Euro ’96 and Euro ’04 and he scored a total of five goals over the years. Surprisingly, Michel Platini, who grabbed 9 goals and led France to glory on home soil in Euro 1984 was not included in the team.
9. Forward: Thierry Henry
Also with six European Championship goals under his belt is Thierry Henry, who played in Euro 2000, 2004 and 2008. The first of those tournaments ended with Henry as France’s top scorer as they took the crown.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker was Les Bleus’ captain for their final game in 2004, which saw the former champions disappointingly finish bottom of their group, with just a point to show for themselves.
10. Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo
Always a popular choice when it comes to fan polls, Cristiano Ronaldo is far more of a success story at the European Championships than the World Cup, having reached the final in front of a home crowd in 2004.
Four years ago, the Real Madrid star took his Portugal side to the semi finals, scoring three of the six European Championship goals he has to his name. Ronaldo will be hoping to go one step further this time round.
11. Foward: Marco van Basten
The last spot in this all-time Euro starting XI goes to Marco van Basten, whose heroic antics in Euro 1988 secured the trophy for the Dutch. It was a tournament to remember for the former AC Milan striker, where he grabbed five goals.
The most famous of those strikes came courtesy of an outrageous volley in the final, although he also found the net in the semis and hit a hat trick in the group stage too. The elegant striker was present four years as well, as the Netherlands lost to Denmark in the semi finals.
UEFA - All-Time Greatest European Championship Starting XI - celezz.com
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