The Euro 2020 Championship is finally over and Italy were deserved champions of a memorable championship that, despite a global pandemic at large, will be remembered for all right reasons. We sat down with our FC Mangalore Technical team of Biby Thomas and Shailesh Karkera for the final time as they racked their brains to pick their team of the tournament.
After hours of debate and contemplation, here’s what they came up with.
BT’s Team of the Tournament
Formation: 1-4-4-2
BT: “I opted for a 1-4-4-2 formation with a strong central pairing who are comfortable with build-up play, two hard-working attack-minded full backs and wingers providing width supported by two good ball distributors in the central areas. Up front, two classic centre-forwards who are proven goal-scorers.”
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
BT: “Donnarmma is only 22 but had a fantastic tournament for Italy. He’s confident, calm under pressure and a great shot-stopper. Hands down the best Goalkeeper in the tournament and deserved of his Player of the Tournament award.
Defenders
Kyle Walker (England)
BT: “Walker is tremendously quick and provides great width down the right flank both for club and country. He is a huge physical presence and is everything you need from a modern full-back”
Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)
BT: “Bonucci is a true leader, organises the defence and is very apt at playing out from the back. He has a strong ariel presence and at 34, he is one of the most experienced CBs in the world today.”
Harry Maguire (England)
BT: “Maguire is another player who had a fantastic tournament. A classic big, strong centre back who is also adept with his distribution skills. Deadly in dead-ball situations”
Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy)
BT: “One of the best players in the Italian setup until he got injured. For a tall man, he is extremely nimble and quick and spear-headed the attacks from the left flank. A coach’s dream”
Midfielders
Tony Kroos (Germany)
BT: “Though Germany fell at the Quarterfinal hurdle to England, Kross is an embodiment of the saying “Class is Permanent”. His distribution skills, passing accuracy and work-rate in this competition were phenomenal and he is my first pick for the Central Midfield position”
Jorginho (Italy)
BT: “He provides the defensive cover and link-play from the defensive to the middle-third and quite frankly was the key player in Mancini’s plans. Dictates the tempo of the game and directs players around him – a true leader”
Robin Gosens (Germany)
BT: “A tall wing-back who is equally adept as left-half and has a knack of scoring goals and being at the right place at the right time. His crosses are deadly, cuts inside from the wing and also covers a lot of ground. “
Enrico Chiesa (Italy)
BT: “Extremely quick, great touches and a deadly finisher. Not afraid to take the defenders head-on and one of the main reasons why Italy won the championship. A must-have on the right flank.”
Forwards
Karim Benzema (France)
BT: “One of the most complete forwards of his generation. Scored crucial goals and in retrospect 2020-21 was arguably one of the best seasons of his career for both club and country. My pick for the CF duo upfront”
Harry Kane (England)
BT: “Kane had an excellent tournament both as a player and leader and thoroughly deserved all the plaudits he received from the media. A classic #9 in the English sense – big, strong, ariel threat and deadly in an around the box”
SK’s Team of the Tournament
Formation: 1-3-5-2
SK: “Given the current tactical tends, I have picked a wide 3-5-2 with defenders who can build-up well, two central midfielders with additional defensive responsibilities and two inverted wingers. Up front, a Classic #10 linking up with two natural goal-scorers.”
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
SK: “Donnarumma single-handedly turned the shoot-out in the final in Italy’s favour and his shot-stopping and ariel prowess aside, he is a good organiser in defensive set-pieces and a very intelligent distributor of the ball.”
Defenders
Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)
SK: “He’s a top defender, excellent in the air and in one-on-one duels and the way he managed the huge threats posed by Belgium, Spain and finally Italy shows exactly why he is still so highly rated even at the ripe old age of 34.”
Georgio Chellini (Italy)
SK: “You cannot have a defensive pairing where one of the two – either Bonucci or Chellini – are missing. Their mutual understanding is telepathic and both are a match made in heaven. Chellini is a true leader, “
Harry Maguire (England)
SK: “Maguire is another player who had a fantastic tournament. A classic big, strong centre back who is also adept with his distribution skills. Effective in dead-ball situations both in attack and defense”
Midfielders
Jorginho (Italy)
SK: ” The central point for build-up play, he controls the tempo and guides the team around him, a conductor of sorts. Excellent distribution skills, always looking for space and provides excellent defensive cover.”
Paul Pogba (France)
SK: “One of the best CMs in the business and had a fantastic tournament – up until the point it went horribly wrong. He was instrumental in France’s World Cup win and despite his critics, his raw talent cannot be denied. “
Pedri (Spain)
SK: “Arguably the find of the tournament, Pedri was instrumental to Spain’s success. He is extremely intelligent, has an excellent passing range/accuracy and is devastatingly effective in the final third “
Enrico Chiesa (Italy)
SK: “Chiesa started the tournament on the bench and ended as a national hero. He gradually grew as the tournament grew on, scored crucial goals and there is no-one more inspiring to be tearing down the right flank.”
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
SK: “Despite playing only four matches, he ended the tournament as a top-scorer and gave yet another vintage performance. Age is only a number and he continues to impact every team that he is involved with in a major way”
Forwards
Karim Benzema (France)
SK: “Benzema is a complete forward who can operate deep and link-up the attacking play as well as one of the best finishers in the game at present. The ideal man to support this world-class attacking setup. “
Harry Kane (England)
SK: “Kane led from the front and bore the weight of an entire country on his shoulders and won the hearts of fans across the globe. Fully deserved of a place in the team featuring the best of the best”
Do you agree with their picks? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
