If Ireland fans didn’t already think they were up against it in Group E, our combined XI shows the task ahead of Martin O’Neill’s squad.
O’Neill already will have known that he needs his team to be more than the sum of their parts, but with a Zlatan-inspired Sweden up first and a formidable Italian defence around the corner, things will be tough.
And that’s before you get to Belgium – favourites to win the group – who dominate our combined XI with six of the 11 payers.
Here’s how we’ve chosen to line up.
Goalkeeper – Gianluigi Buffon
One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and still doing what he does best at the age of 38. Edges out Thibaut Courtois after the Chelsea number one dropped off a bit from a very impressive 2014/15 season.
Right-Back – Toby Alderweireld
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has made this very easy for us by taking a Pulisian approach to full-backs in recent years (i.e. refusing to acknowledge their existence). Injuries to Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Lombaerts may see Alderweireld shifted inside, but he has been used as a right-back in qualifying.
Left-Back – Jan Vertonghen
Again, we have no idea why Wilmots has looked at arguably the Premier League’s best centre-back partnership and decided to put them as far away from each other as possible, but that makes our task much simpler.
Centre-Backs – Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini
Two thirds of the dominant Juventus back three, the pair edge out team-mate Andrea Barzagli on the grounds of experience. Yes, we mean Bonucci’s one (1) extra international cap.
Central Midfield – Mousa Dembélé and Daniele De Rossi
De Rossi, with more than 100 caps, is Mr Italy. The 32-year-old Roman will be even more important in the absence of injured duo Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio. He is paired with Dembélé, whose absence was keenly felt by Tottenham whenever the London club were without him last season.
Left Midfield – Eden Hazard
The Belgium might not have enjoyed the best of seasons with Chelsea, but he remains one of the Premier League’s most talented footballers and one of a select group of Belgians with a real magic touch in attack.
Right Midfield – Kevin de Bruyne
De Bruyne is one of the other Belgian magicians in Wilmots’ squad. The Manchester City man impressed at the World Cup and can do so again in France.
Forwards – Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Try putting anyone else ahead of these two. Go on, we dare you. Two of Europe’s best strikers, these two would make a formidable pairing if placed in the same starting XI – it’s just a shame it will almost certainly never happen at any level.
