With two long, football-less days in a row, it’s time to reflect on the Euro 2016 group stages.
We’ve witnessed some great goals, some penalty misses, and whatever the hell this was.
And now, as we wait for the welcome return of three matches in the same day, we’ve been looking back at the best performers of a topsy-turvy couple of weeks in France.
Here’s how we line up. You’ll notice there are representatives from all the Home Nations except England, which probably says more about them than it does about us.
Goalkeeper – Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland)
The European Championships often provide a great opportunity for unheralded players to produce career-defining performances, and McGovern has done just that.
It’s reasonable to assume the Hamilton goalkeeper was not too well-known outside the Home Nations before this summer, but a heroic display against world champions Germany has seen Northern Ireland through to the last 16.
Honourable Mention: Hannes Halldórsson (Iceland)
Michael McGovern: Has made more saves (15) than any other goalkeeper at Euro 2016 #NIR pic.twitter.com/KRzXnCPQok
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 22, 2016
Right-Back – Elseid Hysaj (Albania)
After they shipped just five goals in qualifying (and none away from home), we could have guessed Albania would be solid defensively. But Hysaj showed their impressive record was about more than just parking the bus.
A calm, elegant defender, the Napoli man was a stand-out performer in each of his country’s group games and can count himself and his team-mates unlucky not to progress.
Honourable Mention: Kyle Walker (England)
Left-Back – Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland)
Sure, the Norwich man technically only played one full game at left-back, but we can’t not include him.
Brady was the brightest spark in Ireland’s first two games, that moment of magic from Wes Hoolahan aside, and has shown why Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United brought him over from Dublin as a teenager.
Honourable Mention: Martin Olsson (Sweden)
Have to catch a train out of Lille in 3 hours. not sure if there's any point sleeping when I could just watch Brady's goal again and again
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 23, 2016
Centre-Backs – Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) and Laurent Koscielny (France)
Antonio Conte’s Italy have shown the value of familiarity, with a goalkeeper and back three from the same club recording back-to-back shut-outs against Belgium and Sweden.
Bonucci edges out club team-mates Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini by virtue of that sumptuous through-ball to set up Emanuele Giaccherini’s opener in the Azzurri‘s first game.
Koscielny, meanwhile, has risen to the task in a French back-line depleted by the losses of Kurt Zouma, Raphaël Varane and Mamadou Sakho, showing his international class alongside Adil Rami in a back-line which is yet to concede from open play.
Honourable Mentions: Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini (both Italy); Kári Árnason (Iceland)
Rami-Koscielny looking more and more solid. Sagna has been excellent. Payet at top of his game. Reasons to be cheerful!
— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) June 19, 2016
Central Midfield – Luka Modrić (Croatia) and Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland)
He might not have featured in the sensational victory over Spain, but Luka Modrić did more than enough in Croatia’s first two games to warrant inclusion.
That stunning volleyed winner against Turkey was followed by a dominant performance against the Czech Republic, and it’s no coincidence that the late comeback arrived when the Real Madrid man had been withdrawn.
He is joined in a midfield two by Sevilla’s Krychowiak, who has been the star of Poland’s relatively comfortable progress. It’s thanks to him that the poor form of Golden Boot candidate Robert Lewandowski has mattered little.
Honourable Mentions: Ádám Nagy (Hungary); Granit Xhaka (Switzerland); Radja Nainggolan (Belgium)
Four excellent midfield performances at #EURO2016 from Modric, Krychowiak, Kroos and now Iniesta.
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) June 13, 2016
Right-Midfield – Dimitri Payet (France)
The West Ham man has spent as much time on the left and in the centre as he has on the right, but it’s impossible to leave out one of the star performers of the group stage.
It has been a tournament where playmakers have shone more than out-and-out forwards, and Payet’s strikes against Romania and Albania elevate him above other contenders.
Honourable Mention: Aaron Ramsey (Wales)
https://twitter.com/Hannamayj/status/744628864282943488
Left-Midfield – Ivan Perišić (Croatia)
It’s just bad luck that the two attacking stars of the group stage both happen to have (largely) played in the same position.
Perišić’s goal against Spain will grab the headlines, and rightly so, but the Inter midfielder has been a class act throughout the opening three matches.
Honourable Mention: Balázs Dzsudzsák (Hungary)
GOAL! Perisic gives #CRO a late lead thanks to decisive break and a slight deflection https://t.co/mLTaTOhNli
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 21, 2016
Attacking Midfield – Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
While watching Spain cruise their opening two games, we were gripped by a terrifying thought. One day Andrés Iniesta will retire from football and we’ll have to deal with the fallout.
It was bad enough losing Xavi from Spain and Barcelona, but at least we had the consolation of Iniesta stepping up for Barcelona and Spain. Now what? Sergi Roberto? No thanks.
Honourable Mention: Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland)
anyone who thinks wayne rooney gave an impressive display in midfield for england yesterday should be watching andres iniesta tonight
— Ken Early (@kenearlys) June 17, 2016
Forward – Gareth Bale (Wales)
It really hasn’t been a tournament for strikers. As well as the aforementioned Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimović failed to find the net and Will Grigg hasn’t even been given a chance to catch fire yet.
One man who hasn’t struggled, however, is Bale. The Real Madrid forward goes into the knockout stages as the only player to score in every group game, and with Wales in the nominally easy half of the draw he is well in contention for the Golden Boot.
Honourable Mention: Álvaro Morata (Spain)
Vote is in, Bale for player of the group stage.
— Chris Mayer (@chrismayerV1) June 23, 2016
