Euro 2012 Power Rankings: Grading the Top 16 Players After One Round of Matches

All 16 teams have each played at least one game at Euro 2012, and while no team has been brilliant there have been a number of outstanding individual displays.

Which players have captured the eye and stood tall when others around them have wilted?

Here I look at the top 16 players of Euro 2012 so far.

Read on for the complete power rankings, and be sure to leave your top stars in the comments below.

16. Ashley Cole (England)

The England and Chelsea defender has been the best player in the world in his position for the last 12 years or so, and if his first game against France is anything to go by he has another few years left at the top.

Cole did not put a foot wrong against Les Bleus when his team were under intense pressure. And when you consider that he had an 18-year-old making his first competitive international start ahead of him it just adds to his performance.

15. Samir Nasri (France)

The little Manchester City midfielder was at his influential best against England in Donetsk. He started on the right flank in a 4-2-3-1 formation and ranged across the front three midfielders with ease and caused Parker and Gerrard many, many problems.

He also took he goal extremely well when he basically sold Joe Hart a dummy from fully 20-yards out as he curled the ball into the bottom corner of the near post.

14. Daniel Agger (Denmark)

Agger was at his very best for Denmark in their 1-0 win over Holland. He has had something of a mixed season at club level but against Robin van Persie and co. he rose to the occasion and led his team from the back.

Position-wise he was brilliant and helped render both Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as little more than participants as his team pulled off a memorable shock.

13. Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

It says much about the quality of Spain's 1-1 draw against Italy that Xavi Hernandez is only ranked 13 in the best players from Euro 2012 so far.

Against the Italian's he was back to his brilliant best and controlled La Roja's every attack with simplistic ease.

He is a general extraordinaire and has an almost telepathic link with his teammates as his laser precise passes rarely go awry.

12. Yohan Cabaye (France)

Cabaye was the best midfielder on show in the France v England match by some distance.

The Newcastle player dictated the tempo of the entire game and showed levels of class that may yet earn him a move away from St. James Park.

He controlled and patrolled the middle with ease and it was on this foundation that France dominated the entire game.

11. John Terry (England)

Like his England team mate, Ashley Cole, John Terry has been one of the finest players in his position over the last decade.

Against France he organised a defence that barely got out of their own half during the second period and the fact that Joe Hart was only really tested from distance speaks volumes of how influential Terry was at positioning his troops.

He may not be England's captain but he is their most important leader.

10. Luka Modric (Croatia)

Luka Modric ran the show from midfield as Croatia beat Ireland. He was excellent in possession and always took up great positions to take the ball from teammates regardless of the pressure he or they were under.

Having a player like that available to you when you are playing cannot be underestimated. The Spurs play-maker is one of the bravest players in the Premier League and is never afraid to take responsibility in key areas of the pitch and his display for his country in their first group match was no different.

9. Andriy Yarmolenko (Ukraine)

Andriy Yarmolenko was most excellent in his country's 2-1 win over Sweden. The 22-year-old Dynamo Kiev player is a youngster with a great future ahead of him as he is blessed with a superb work ethic to match his undoubted skills.

Harder tests than Sweden are yet to come, but if he can keep this level of contribution up then he will be playing in one of Europe's top leagues next year.

8. Alan Dzagoev (Russia)

The CSKA Moscow midfielder came into Euro 2012 with a growing reputation and was picked by many as a player to watch.

While his play did not hit the heights he is capable of, he contributed with two extremely well taken goals as Russia romped to a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic.

On the ball he can be devastating and if he can combine his creative skills with his obvious eye for goal, then Russia will have a player that will take some stopping.

7. Daniele De Rossi (Italy)

When it comes to midfield generals there have been very few players better than De Rossi over the last 10 years.

The 28-year-old Roma midfielder has everything a real midfielder could want and against Spain he showed practically every single one of his skills, while playing as a defender.

He is one of the leaders of this current Italian side and once again showed why he is so valuable for Cesare Prandelli.

6. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

It takes a lot to outshine the likes of Xavi and Fabregas when playing against Spain but Italy's Andrea Pirlo rolled back the years to put in an inspirational performance.

He controlled the Italian side like a puppet master and was at the heart of every attack and defensive move the Azzurri put together.

5. Mario Mandzukic (Croatia)

The giant Wolfsburg striker terrorized the Irish defence all night as Croatia ran out easy 3-1 winners over Ireland in the Group C clash.

He waded in with two goals which were both a little fortuitous to be honest but which were undoubtedly well deserved as he man-handled Richard Dunne with ease throughout.

Mandzukic provided great penetration and strength in possession for Slaven Bilic's side and led the line like a centre forward of old.

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Despite losing 2-1 to the Ukraine, Zlatan Ibrahimovic put in one of the best performances of the competition so far.

He was at the heart of everything that was good about Sweden's play and was instrumental in almost every meaningful attack.

It was a real captain's display from the AC Milan man as he scored to put his nation ahead. But it was his willingness to work for his team and his intelligence on the ball that really stood out.

3. Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine)

The Ukraine and Andrei Shevchenko did everything the hard way. Exactly what we want our underdog heroes to do.

The former AC Milan and Chelsea hitman rolled back the years and scored two brilliant headers as his team came from behind to beat Sweden.

There is an old football saying, "up here for thinking, down there for dancing," meaning that while the body may age the brain and knowledge will always stay fit. Sheva showed that this was the case as his intelligent runs confused the Swedish defence for both goals and belied his wearisome body.

2. Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Is there a better passer of the ball in world football?

The little maestro from Barcelona played slightly out of position as Vicente Del Bosque went for a surprising 4-6-0 formation with his forward three midfielders exchanging positions throughout.

Whether he was operating on the left, right or as a false nine, Iniesta was brilliant as his incisive passing continuously made Italy's defence change position and shuffle across so that Spain could open up another avenue. Unfortunately, no other Spanish player showed the same levels of vision.

1. Christian Maggio (Italy)

Maggio has been the most outstanding player of the tournament so far after a virtuoso display from right-back for Italy against Spain.

The Napoli defender terrified Jordi Alba every time he got on the ball and his willingness to take on players no matter what location on the pitch gave Vicente Del Bosque a real headache. He made his opponents commit to tackles or deep defensive positions every time he got on the ball and was vitally important in Italy's defensive display against La Roja.

Defensive-wise he was also brilliant and took up a number of superb positions as Spain's tiki-taka approach threatened to over run the Italian defence.

In short, the best player so far.