Spain Schemer Andres Iniesta Named Player Of Euro 2012, Steven Gerrard In Team Of The Tournament

Alan Duffy

2nd, July 2012

26 Comments

By Alan Duffy

He of ghostly palour and lightning-quick feet, Andres Iniesta, has been named by the player of Euro 2012 by the UEFA bigwigs after a starring role in La Roja’s third major tournament triumph on the bounce.  I don’t think there’ll be too many dissenting voices on this one, with arguably only Azzurri star Andrea Pirlo, Portugal numero uno Cristiano Ronaldo or Spanish defenders Jordi Alba and Sergio Ramos deserving of the award.

Anyway, on a positive note for England, none other than Three Lions’ captain Stevie G has been named in the team of the tournament after the Liverpool man played a disciplined yet creative role in England’s decent enough campaign. (what, no James Milner!?)

See the full list below. Personally I’m not convinced Sami Khedira was that great. Anyway, debate away!

Euro 2012 team of the tournament:

 Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Ita), Iker Casillas (Spa), Manuel Neuer (Ger)

Defenders: Gerard Pique (Spa), Fabio Coentrao (Por), Philipp Lahm (Ger), Pepe (Por), Sergio Ramos (Spa), Jordi Alba (Spa)

Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Ita), Steven Gerrard (Eng), Xavi (Spa), Andres Iniesta (Spa), Sami Khedira (Ger), Sergio Busquets (Spa), Mesut Ozil (Ger), Andrea Pirlo (Ita), Xabi Alonso (Spa)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Ita), Cesc Fabregas (Spa), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Swe), David Silva (Spa)

Posted in Euro 2012

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26 Comments

  1. NathanM says:

    Joao Moutinho is unlucky not to be in there.

  2. One England Captian says:

    Torres wins Golden Boot but misses out on Team of the Tournament? Has to be a first surely??

  3. Holland 1945 says:

    Think that’s disgraceful to be honest. Iniesta had a poor tournament by his standards, and only really had anything better than an average game in the final. I suppose as that’s the most important game, then of course he deserves to be talked about but Pirlo was class from day 1, and pulled his side all the way to the final against all expectation.

    He tore apart an English side blessed with at least as much, if not more talent, and then ran the show against one of the favourites Germany, who’d previously looked like an unstoppable juggernaut.

  4. Wynton says:

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic?!? That must be a fuckin joke!

  5. noiz says:

    agger, hummels, pilar, mandzukic?

  6. blotto says:

    David Silva?

  7. farmanian96 says:

    dzagoev?mandzukic?!!!

  8. Karan says:

    Heavily biased towards the big teams.
    Don’t think Iniesta was deserving of “player of the tournament”.

  9. Toz says:

    Iniesta is a work horse, silent but deadly. He deserves it. He’s definitely the one player every single fucking journo under-rates and seemingly according to the experts here,

  10. Dave says:

    Ibra? wtf. plus moutinho should be in for khedira any day.

  11. Eckpfosten says:

    Lahm but not Hummels? Strange decision…

  12. Anonymous says:

    Iniesta was brilliant in the first Italian game when all the rest of the spanish players were struggling. He was motm that day and he was very good for the rest of the tournament. Very deserving of player of the tournament. Ibra should not be in there. Bendtner was good for the danes. Dzagoev or Mandzukic owned the group stages. Torres was top scorer.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Since when is Iniesta not recognized? He’s always recognized and doesn’t get judged harshly like other players for going down easily like every other Barca players barring Puyol and Pique, I’d take Moutinho for Busquets I would say. Torres played just over 2 games worth of football scores 3 goals and an assist and Ibra makes it over him?

  14. MGJ says:

    Love how from now on Fabregas will be known as a striker! No hay tres sin cuatro!

  15. BigAl says:

    I second the call for Joao Moutinho. He had a great tournament.

  16. gilbert says:

    no Samaras? pfff….

  17. what do you mean Sami Khedira wasn’t great??? Everyone in Germany agrees he is the only German, along with Gomez and Hummels, who actually bothered showing up to the tournament (Magath: “Only Khedira, our best player this tournament, distinguished himself here.”). Even besides his amazing volley, he was still great and is one of the most criminally underrated players in world football. Sorry you don’t like using him on FIFA 12 or Football Manager, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the best in his position in the world. Jose Mourinho is not stupid to always play him and he is a stalwart for the team that dethroned the Barca empire last season.

    Conversely, Phillip Lahm is a German that doesn’t deserve to be here and even though he is good, he is one of the MOST overrated players in the world! He has been in decline since Euro 08. Just because he is the best left fullback in FIFA12 doesn’t mean he is the best in real life (Jordi Alba, Marcelo, and A.Cole are better IMO)

    Oh and Ibrahimovic should not be anywhere near this team when you look at Mandzukic, Gomez, and Shevchenko. Or at least give his spot to Joao Moutinho who was awesome! But like Lahm, who undeservedly always makes into UEFA’s annual team of the season because ignorant fans *cough* in England and *cough* USA do not know who else to vote for, Ibra is famous, therefore he must be a player of the tournament. Two joke selections based on fame and not performance.

  18. R7 says:

    what do you mean Sami Khedira wasn’t great??? Everyone in Germany agrees he is the only German, along with Gomez and Hummels, who actually bothered showing up to the tournament (Magath: “Only Khedira, our best player this tournament, distinguished himself here.”). Even besides his amazing volley, he was still great and is one of the most criminally underrated players in world football. Sorry you don’t like using him on FIFA 12 or Football Manager, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the best in his position in the world. Jose Mourinho is not stupid to always play him and he is a stalwart for the team that dethroned the Barca empire last season.

    Conversely, Phillip Lahm is a German that doesn’t deserve to be here and even though he is good, he is one of the MOST overrated players in the world! He has been in decline since Euro 08. Just because he is the best left fullback in FIFA12 doesn’t mean he is the best in real life (Jordi Alba, Marcelo, and A.Cole are better IMO)

    Oh and Ibrahimovic should not be anywhere near this team when you look at Mandzukic, Gomez, and Shevchenko. Or at least give his spot to Joao Moutinho who was awesome! But like Lahm, who undeservedly always makes into UEFA’s annual team of the season because ignorant fans *cough* in England and *cough* USA do not know who else to vote for, Ibra is famous, therefore he must be a player of the tournament. Two joke selections based on fame and not performance.

  19. hug me says:

    Christ almighty, surely I’m not the only one who remembers the absolute howlers that Ronaldo had for Portugal? He fluffed countless easy chances in the first two games, came alive in the next two games, then knobbed up the final game, why is this deserving of a place in front of either Mario Mandzukic or Mario Gomez?

  20. JuanosDios says:

    Arbeloa has got to be gutted.

  21. Anonymous says:

    Poor Bruno Alves

  22. Qq says:

    Duhhh… Rooney played 2 games, scored in both games (yes penalty shootout counts), thats like 100%!! Am I right? Huh? Huh, huh? No?

    okay, no…

  23. Anonymous says:

    Khedira`s been the best German, I agree. Chech`s Jiracek impressed me…

  24. Eckpfosten says:

    AGree with Khedira…but Gomez…sorry, scoring goals is one thing, beeing an important player another. Gomez shines with great assists, but he cant move with the ball.

  25. NathanM says:

    Another Portuguese player from me… Joao Pereira over Lahm.

  26. p says:

    Where’s Mats Hummels in this? Damn you UEFA!

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