GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
After a tournament which saw him concede just four goals, keep three clean sheets, and make three penalty shoot-out saves, Italy’s towering goalkeeper was justifiably awarded Player of the Tournament, the first time a keeper has received the honour.
Honourable mentions: Jordan Pickford (England) may have had a mixed year in an Everton shirt but yet again showed up for his country where it counted. Yann Sommer (Switzerland) was terrific, his heroics in the matches against France and Spain bringing his team agonisingly close to the semis. Likewise Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark) was a rock for his team throughout, providing inspiring leadership both on and off the pitch.
RB: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
The Dutch may have ultimately disappointed but none of that blame can be attributed to their super wing-back Dumfries, who produced some of the most scintillating displays of the early rounds.
Honourable mention: Kyle Walker (England) may not be the flashiest player but when it comes to pace and defensive cover there’s almost no-one else you’d want more.
Embed from Getty ImagesCB: Harry Maguire (England)
Despite missing the first couple of games through injury, Harry Maguire reminded everyone just how good a player he can be on his return. A rock in a hugely impressive English defence, he also got on the goalsheet against Ukraine as well as taking a hugely impressive penalty against Italy.
CB: Georgio Chiellini (Italy)
Italy’s talismanic captain showed all of his experience and skill in guiding Italy to their first Euro win since 1968. A physical, dominating presence in the box, his calmness and coolness under pressure were exemplified by his utterly relaxed approach to Italy’s semi-final shootout win against Spain.
Honourable mentions: I chose Maguire and Chiellini in my team but you could just as easily have swapped them out for John Stones (England) and Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), both of whom were terrific in two of the best defences of the tournament. A special mention to Simon Kjaer (Denmark) for his wonderful leadership when Christian Eriksen collapsed to the ground against Finland – him gathering his squad in a protective circle around his fallen teammate was one of the enduring images of the tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesLB: Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy)
Spinazzola lit up the tournament in the early rounds, where he was arguably his team’s best player. His injury in the quarter finals deprived the Euros of one of its leading lights but even being absent from the final stages he has to be included in the team of the tournament.
Honourable mentions: Luke Shaw (England) defied all his critics and produced some genuinely astonishing displays, culminating in a sumptuous goal in the final. Joakim Mæhle (Denmark) also played a vital role in his team’s fairy-tale run to the semi-finals.
Embed from Getty ImagesCM: Pedri (Spain)
A teenager has no business being this good at football. The 18-year old Pedri was astonishing in his first major tournament, passing with precision, creating chances and scoring goals. Deservedly named Young Player of the Tournament.
CM: Paul Pogba (France)
France’s shock defeat to Switzerland in the round of 16 deprived the rest of the tournament of Paul Pogba’s presence – a crying shame because the midfielder was at his extraordinary best. On his day he seems capable of doing things few others can do – his passing unlocked defence after defence and his goal against the Swiss was an outrageous piece of skill.
CM: Jorginho (Italy)
Jorginho’s time with Chelsea has seen mixed reviews but he was a revelation this summer with Italy. An instrumental presence in the Italian midfield, and scorer of one of the coolest penalties you’ll ever see against Spain, he’s a legitimate Ballon d’Or contender this year.
Honourable mentions: I’ve opted not to go with defensive midfielders, which means perhaps unfairly leaving out the likes of Sergio Busquets (Spain), who was the engine behind much of what Spain did well over the last few weeks; N’Golo Kante (France), who at times seems legitimately impossible to get past; or the midfield pairing of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice (England) who fully justified the faith Gareth Southgate put in them.
Embed from Getty ImagesRW: Federico Chiesa (Italy)
It’s funny to think that Chiesa didn’t really break into the Italy starting XI until half-way through this tournament. Initially having to settle for a bench position, he came off the bench to score the vital winning goal against Austria in the round of 16 and never looked back, scoring another crucial goal in the semis against Spain and proving one of Italy’s best players in the final with his menacing runs.
Honourable mentions: Had Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium) not spent so much of the tournament injured I’d probably have picked him in the starting squad – at his best he is simply unplayable and Belgium looked a shadow of themselves without him.
LW: Raheem Sterling (England)
England grew somewhat slowly into the tournament, and at their more stodgy moments it sometimes looked like things would only happen if Raheem Sterling made them happen. Sterling continues to play above himself in an England shirt – he is a legitimately thrilling player to watch, capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and taking it where he wants it to go.
Honourable mentions: Emil Forsberg (Sweden) scored four goals in four games from the left wing for Sweden, and was unlucky not to score more, with the woodwork twice denying him (and ultimately Sweden) in the round of 16. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) looked consistently dangerous as well.
CF: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Lukaku might not have been the highest scoring striker in the tournament, nor did his team go the furthest, but few players looked as dangerous every time they touched the ball. Lukaku is a wonderful player to watch, combining pace and power with deft feet and inventive play. There are few players in the world a keeper would less rather see bearing down on them.
Honourable mentions: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) didn’t have his best tournament, but with a joint-tournament leading five goals he certainly has a knack for finding the net. The same can be said of Patrick Schick (Czech Republic) who also scored 5 including a 50 yard pearler against Scotland.
The Mongoose 