Best Players of Euro 2012

These are some of the players that helped to light up the 2012 European Championships of 2012. There are some others that might well have been included here but are in the best newcomers hub

GOALKEEPERS

Iker Casillas ( Spain) Gianluigi Buffon ( Germany) Manuel Neuer (Germany) All 3 are now really established as their countrys number 1 goalkeeper and although none of them was particularly hard worked in most of the games when they did need to come into action they each pulled off some great saves.

DEFENDERS

Sergio Ramos (Spain) Gerard Pique ( Spain) Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) Pepe ( Portugal) Fabio Coentrao ( Portugal ) Phillip Lahm ( Germany)

All good quality and experienced players who had good tournaments. Coentrao and Lahm are always good going forward. Pepe and Chiellini are in the aggressive ball winning role and they helped their countries have good tournaments. Ramos and Pique can both defend aggressively when they have to and they are ideal in this passing Spanish team for bringing the ball skilfully out of defence.

MIDFIELDERS

Andres Iniesta (Spain) Xavi (Spain) Cesc Fabregas (Spain) Xabi Alonso (Spain) David Silva (Spain) Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Daniele De Rossi (Italy) Claudio Marchisio (Italy) Joao Moutinho (Portugal) Steven Gerrard (England)

A few members of Spains great midfield are included. They are all comfortable on the ball and composed whether it’s setting up chances or taking a shot at goal themselves. The Italian midfield done well throughout the tournament and the 3 mentioned here were possibly their best in those positions. Pirlo scored a great free kick and was so composed throughout the games, setting up great chances for others. De Rossi and Marchisio also had good tournaments. Closing down their opponents while also showing good composure on the ball and were both unlucky not to score on several occasions. Portugals Moutinho probably doesn’t get as much attention as some of his team mates but he had a great tournament. Winning plenty of tackles and being very effective in setting up team mates. England captain Gerrard had a good tournament and his crosses helped set up a goal in each of the group games as well as an overall good contribution.

FORWARDS

Cristiano Ronaldo ( Portugal ) Mario Gomez ( Germany) Antonio Cassano ( Italy) Fernando Torres ( Spain)

None of the forwards were on top form all the way through the tournament so there might be some surprising choices here.

Ronaldo started sluggishly and missed a lot of chances in the first couple of games but then scored 3 goals in the next 2. He missed chances but overall had a good tournament and was as usual one of the most exciting players to watch. Gomez also scored 3 goals but he did things the opposite way round to Ronaldo in scoring them in the first couple of games and then nothing. After misfiring at the last 2 major tournaments he scored some good goals and looked a threat if the delivery was good. Cassano Only scored 1 goal but he looked a threat and linked up well with his team mates. Good at holding the ball up waiting for support but also at taking defences on himself. Torres scored 3 goals and although he missed chances there was a feeling that in the games he played he was getting into some form and confidence.