Euro 2012: Starting XI of the Tournament So Far

Fourteen matches into Euro 2012 means that we’re halfway through the second-most prestigious international football tournament in the world, or thereabouts anyway.

Knowing that, it seems like an apt time to look back upon the wonderment we’ve seen so far in the competition and think about which players in particular have stood out more than the rest.

We’ve seen some surprise on show over the past week from players who were previously off the radar and whose stock will undoubtedly have skyrocketed as a result of their recent exploits.

On the other hand, we’ve also seen some performances that haven’t been as shocking as big names continue to display the ability that puts them in such good standing on a club level.

The players chosen in the next set of slides have been selected purely on their form in the Euro 2012 tournament, and as such, performance prior to the competition has no influence whatsoever.

In addition, the formation utilized has been picked based on the areas of the pitch that have had the strongest representation, and while some superstar names may be missing, it’s only because they deserve to be.

Now that that’s out of the way, let's get the ball rolling, shall we?

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer has succeeded in helping Germany to victory over the two sides that many would have nominated as Group B’s most dangerous heading into the tournament.

The Bayern Munich stopper opened his tournament account with a clean sheet against Portugal, and while Cristiano Ronaldo’s side may have proved more threatening to the German goal, Neuer still had his work cut out for him in protecting his net.

The 26-year-old then faced what turned out to be a more challenging task against the Netherlands, saving five shots in what was a tighter affair than many would have predicted following the poor showing from the Dutch in their match against Denmark.

Speaking of the Danish, Morten Olsen’s men appear intent on causing a Group of Death upset, and while Neuer has been impressive, the Danes are yet to fail to score in a match so far in this tournament and will definitely test Germany’s No. 1.

Many would have put Iker Casillas forward for the position of Euro 2012’s top ‘keeper so far, but the quality of competition in Group B compared to the standard on display in Group C means that Neuer’s heroics are made all the more impressive.

Right-Back: Mathieu Debuchy

Mathieu Debuchy has the honour of being the only player from Group D on this list to have done enough in his first-round performance to earn a place in the starting lineup of a Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament so far.

The Lille asset was a constant threat against England and, for great periods of the first match, was doing a better job of attacking down the flanks than France’s wingers.

Before Euro 2012 began, Debuchy was being linked with a move to Newcastle United (as reported by the Daily Mail), but if he manages to maintain the high level of performance he has displayed so far, the Magpies may find themselves priced out of the full-back’s signature.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a very persistent threat for the 26-year-old, but despite his taste for attacking, Debuchy managed to deal with his English opponent very well.

With just three clean sheets to speak of in the tournament so far, it’s fair to say that the back four hasn’t been a particular highlight of the competition, but Debuchy definitely stands out as one of the more talented defenders over the past week.

Left-Back: Yuri Zhirkov

With Russia emerging as one of the surprise packages in Poland and Ukraine, Yuri Zhirkov is one of several members of the squad to arise as leaders in their success.

Dick Advocaat’s side are currently atop Group A and, despite faltering against hosts Poland on Tuesday, are still favourites to advance to the quarterfinals.

Like national teammate Andrey Arshavin, Zhirkov came into this tournament having had an ultimately unsuccessful stint in the Premier League, and it was a mystery as to which version of the defender would show up.

Zhirkov earned his move to Chelsea following an impressive string of performances at Euro 2008, something he failed to replicate in a three-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.

However, the left-back looks to be back to his best, and while he might be down as a defender on the team sheet, Zhirkov’s main priority has always seemed to be going forward.

While he does an admirable job at the back, the Anzhi Makhachkala utility gives Advocaat another aspect in attack, and his efforts on the offense are truly substantial.

Russia’s main strength certainly appears to be their fluid and technically strong midfield, but with Zhirkov coming up from the back, attacks tend to gain another dimension from the left-sided speedster.

Centre-Back: Mats Hummels

Many were speculating as to whether or not Mats Hummels would even feature in Germany’s starting lineup at Euro 2012, but after seeing such a good return in his first two matches of the tournament, Joachim Löw will consider his faith well placed.

The centre-back has been one of the Bundesliga’s top performers in bringing two consecutive league titles to Borussia Dortmund, but his standards have slipped when playing for the national team.

It was touch and go right up until Die Mannschaft’s opening fixture against Portugal regarding who would start in central defence for Germany, but Hummels appears to have shaken off all and any nerves and is now the reliable staple that supporters of the country have been hoping for.

Manuel Neuer had to make only three saves in the match against Portugal. While the German defence features several star names, Hummels was a huge part of why the stopper went largely unchallenged.

It looks as if the 23-year-old has managed to transfer his club form onto the international stage when it matters most. Hummels is a key component in why Germany remain one of the firm favourites to go and win this competition.

Centre-Back: Gerard Piqué

With Carles Puyol ruled out of the tournament through injury, it was the responsibility of club and country teammate Gerard Piqué to make sure that the Spanish defence wasn’t the dimension that let the side down as they looked to retain their European title.

Conceding just one goal in the competition so far, Spain certainly look like they’re on track to make it into the quarterfinals, and Piqué hasn’t disappointed.

Utilizing the tiki-taka fluidity that Spain have become renowned for, the Barcelona defender involves himself in attack when the time calls for it and could easily be mistaken for a midfielder at times.

However, it’s Piqué’s defensive stability that sees him onto this list.

Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano were a constant threat in Spain’s first match of the tournament.  While Antonio Di Natale did eventually breach the Spanish defence, the Italian attacking threat was largely relegated to attempts from outside the box, thanks to the strong positioning of Piqué and Sergio Ramos.

The 25-year-old looks as assured for his national side as he has done for huge parts of the club campaign, and if Spain are to continue their journey in hanging on to the European Championship, they need Piqué to remain fit.

Centre Midfielder: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Capable of functioning as a defensive midfielder or a playmaker in a more advanced position, Bastian Schweinsteiger has been the calm and experienced head that the German midfield need.

Die Mannschaft have been greatly publicised as the youngest team in the tournament, but it’s the areas Schweinsteiger covers where an older mind is greatly appreciated.

While Mesut Özil provides some of the more offensive string-pulling for Germany, it’s Schweinsteiger that gives the nation a more rounded asset, just as capable on the back heel as he is when going forward.

The Bayern Munich man grabbed two assists in the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. It’s matches like this when you need your biggest players to come up with the goods, something Schweinsteiger did in collective fashion.

Although Joachim Löw has an incredible wealth of depth in midfield, if his side are to have the best hopes of winning the Euro 2012 title as many predict, he needs his middleman to keep fit, something that proved difficult for him last season.

Centre Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo

After grabbing a surprise draw against world champions Spain, a number of the Italian team stuck out as key performers in a match that few would have predicted would pan out the way it did.

Andrea Pirlo was certainly one of those players.

Fresh off the trail of a Serie A triumph with Juventus, the veteran is showing exactly why AC Milan should be kicking themselves for even considering letting this playmaker go on a free transfer.

Despite being 33 years old, Pirlo’s level of play would have you think that he’s capable of playing into his 40s.

The 2006 World Cup winner admittedly finds himself playing in a more subdued role at times, operating further back than he may have been accustomed to in his younger years.

However, even with that being the case, it seems as if Italy’s creative juices appear to flowing almost individually through Pirlo. If the Azzurri are to upset the odds, they need the Juve man to remain healthy.

Cesare Prandelli has plenty of talent up front in the forms of Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Antonio Di Natale, but how much ball they will receive rests largely with Pirlo.

Attacking Midfielder: Alan Dzagoev

Russia surprised many with the dominant show that saw them deal a harsh thrashing to the Czech Republic on the opening day of Euro 2012, and a key factor in that was Alan Dzagoev.

The 21-year-old plays more like a striker than he does a midfielder at times, and after scoring three goals in Russia’s first two matches, you wouldn’t be blamed for mistaking him as such.

Dzagoev came into this tournament with a lot of responsibility on his shoulder, being incessantly pegged as “the future of the Russian national team."

A title such as this could often get to a man. Depending on the resolve of the player, one could find that the occasion is simply too much to bear.

However, Dzagoev has proven the plaudits correct, and if the first half of this tournament is anything to go by, the CSKA Moscow starlet certainly has a bright future ahead of him.

The youngster bagged a superb brace in Dick Advocaat’s first match and also headed home against Poland to make him the joint top goal-scorer in the tournament as things stand.

Russia have a serious amount of attacking talent, and with Dzagoez playing the role of puppeteer behind the attacking line, the country have a decent chance of causing an upset in Poland and Ukraine.

Right Winger: Jakub Błaszczykowski

Performing in front of your home fans can have either one of two quite opposite effects on a player.

The occasion can sometimes get to a man, and the responsibility of a country’s hopes resting on one’s shoulders can often prove too hefty a strain for some to bear.

However, Jakub Błaszczykowski certainly looks to have embraced the occasion. The admiration of his home support has only galvanized the wideman into performing incredibly well when it matters most.

The winger is one of three Borussia Dortmund stars on the Polish side who carried huge responsibility coming into Euro 2012.

“Kuba” was selected as captain of the hosts for a reason, and the attacker is showing just why that is, constantly involved in the fray whether it be in defence or attack.

The 26-year-old provided Robert Lewandowski with a good amount of ammunition in the Poles’ opening fixture against Greece, but it was in the second game against Russia where Błaszczykowski really shone through.

With his side 1-0 down, the Borussia Dortmund man rounded a supreme effort past Vyacheslav Malafeev, earning Poland a point and keeping their hopes of a quarterfinal fixture alive.

The host nation’s chances of progressing are still relatively slim, but if they are to make it through, then they need their captain and leader to guide them there.

Left Winger: David Silva

Following on from a magnificent season at Manchester City, David Silva seems to have penciled himself into the first-team plans of Vicente del Bosque, and for good reason.

The former Valencia talisman has come up with the goods on countless occasions for Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium and now appears to be doing so for the national side.

If the Spaniards were ever to hold on to their European Championship title, it would require their bigger stars to turn up to the races on the biggest of stages.

And turn up Silva has.

In Spain’s opening two matches, the pint-sized playmaker has made three assists and even managed a notch in with a goal himself.

Operating in a more attacking aspect of the 4-6-0 formation that Del Bosque chose to utilize against Italy, Silva is capable of proving a threat on goal himself but certainly seems to prefer having a striker ahead of him.

With such a host of talent in the Spanish squad, it can only be described as difficult to stick out as a key player, but Silva has managed to do just that and is certainly one of the tournament’s more exciting stars thus far.

Striker: Mario Gomez

Operating in this team as a lone striker just as he does for Germany, Mario Gomez has finally hit form in an international tournament, something he has failed to accomplish in his career before now.

The Bayern Munich forward has netted all three of Germany’s goals at Euro 2012 so far and has handled the responsibilities as the main attacker for his country brilliantly.

With Gomez leading the line, Joachim Löw can be confident that he has an asset capable of scoring goals as long as his substantial midfield talent continue to provide.

Miroslav Klose has always been the German’s go-to man on the international stage, holding a very prolific scoring rate when playing for the national team.

However, Gomez really has stepped up when it is required of him most, and the 26-year-old has been too clinical in front of goal not to feature as a part of this lineup.