THEIR TEAMS OF A TOURNAMENT THAT THRILLED US
MIKE WALTERS
(4-3-3) Pickford; Di Lorenzo, Stones, Maguire, Spinazzola; Jorginho, Rice, Pedri; Chiesa, Kane, Sterling.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling
Goals, assists, controversial penalty decisions – you name it, he’s been involved in it. Underlines the value of wide players running at defenders to stretch opponents.
Approaching national treasure status.
DAVID MCDONNELL
(4-3-3) Schmeichel; Walker, Maguire, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Jorginho, Busquets, Pedri; Chiesa, Kane, Sterling.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling
He didn’t have a great end to the season with Manchester City, but has used Euro 2020 to remind the world of his enduring talent, with three goals and formidable forward play throughout, notably winning the
penalty that saw England through against Denmark in the semi-final.
NEIL MCLEMAN
(4-3-3) Donnarumma; Maehle, Bonucci, Chiellini, Shaw; Pedri, Jorginho, Verratti; Sterling, Schick, Ronaldo.
Player of the tournament: Jorginho
The Chelsea midfielder has proven to have the dual ability to break up opposition attacks and launch quick counterattacks with incisive, forward passes.
DAVID ANDERSON
(4-3-3) Schmeichel; Maehle, Stones, Bonucci, Spinazzola; Pedri, Jorginho, Xhaka; Sterling, Schick, Ronaldo.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling
Has answered the
critics who felt he should not start for England at Euro 2020. He has scored crucial goals against Croatia, the Czech Republic and Germany and was heavily involved in the two against Denmark. DAVID MADDOCK
(4-3-3) Hradecky; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Maehle; Pedri, Jorginho, De Bruyne; Chiesa, Lukaku, Sterling.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling Barely needs an explanation. Stats are incredible for shots and dribbles, not to mention his constant threat. Equally important though, is his work combatting discrimination and racism, which has continued during the tournament.
DARREN LEWIS
(4-3-3) Donnarumma; Walker, Bonucci, Stones, Spinazzola; Pogba, Pedri, Phillips; Sterling, Kane, Chiesa.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling Shrugged off suggestions that he shouldn’t have even started England’s first game against Croatia to score the winner in that match. Although Harry Kane has grabbed the most goals, Sterling has been the most influential in terms of making things happen. Easily the player of the tournament.
SIMON BIRD
(4-3-3): Schmeichel; Walker, Maguire, Kjaer, Shaw; Jorghino, Pedri, Rice; Sterling, Kane, Olmo.
Player of the tournament: Raheem Sterling Proved himself yet again to be a key goal maker and getter for England. He is perpetual motion, a total pest, a speedster and impossible to mark when roaming dangerously around packed defences.
He has excelled.