Ranking Tottenham's Players on Their Performances at Euro 2016
The European Championship is over, and Portugal became unlikely champions.
While preparations for the new domestic season are already well underway, there is still time to reflect on the contribution of Tottenham Hotspur's players to Euro 2016.
Only Liverpool and Juventus provided more than Spurs' 11 players for the tournament, and of those, 10 reached the knockout stages.
Injury stopped some from featuring, baffling managerial decisions damaged others and Hugo Lloris reached Sunday's final with France.
A good number of former Tottenham players also packed squads in France, but they will not feature here.
1. Hugo Lloris
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France captain Hugo Lloris was Tottenham's finest player at Euro 2016.
The goalkeeper helped his team reach the final, and there, he was beaten only by an improbable strike from Portugal's Eder.
A pair of brilliant saves denied Portugal a certain winner in normal time, and Lloris had done similar against Germany in the semi-final.
He kept three clean sheets behind a less-than-inspiring defence and, as is so often the case for Spurs, made a number of timely interceptions to snuff out opposition attacks.
2. Eric Dier
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Eric Dier was England's best player at the European Championship, and his withdrawal at half-time against Iceland only underlines former manager Roy Hodgson's unsuitability to being Three Lions boss.
Twelve months ago, Dier was a centre-back with potential but far from a polished player. He is now among England's best midfielders.
If a tactically astute replacement for Hodgson is brought in, Dier could become the Three Lions' Xabi Alonso.
Already growing into that role for Tottenham, Dier announced himself on the international stage at Euro 2016.
He should be one of the few players to escape the ignominy associated with England's calamitous failure in France.
T3. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker
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Tottenham's full-backs were among the few highlights of England's Euro 2016 campaign.
Both started three matches in France and were vital to the Three Lions' progression to the round of 16.
Rose was England's finest player in the opening match against Russia and shone again in the victory over Wales. Rested against Slovakia, Rose returned to face Iceland but was unable to impose himself on the match.
Walker, too, was impressive for Hodgson's side. Occasionally accused of committing unnecessary fouls, Walker was a model of control in defence. He conceded just two free-kicks during his three games at the tournament.
In attack, he gave vintage displays of athleticism and constantly overwhelmed his markers with pace and strength.
Spurs' duo could not carry England beyond the round of 16, but it was not for want of trying.
5. Ben Davies
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Ben Davies was not often sighted for Tottenham last season but has been an ever present for Wales in the past few years and started their first five games in France.
He was one of Wales' most influential players, helping them to secure an unexpected semi-final place.
Per Squawka, he made 16 interceptions, 26 clearances and six blocks as he showed the defensive determination that won him his move to Tottenham two seasons ago.
Sadly for Davies, a booking in the quarter-final win against Belgium saw him suspended for the semi-final. His absence keenly felt, Portugal were victorious in that game.
6. Toby Alderweireld
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Toby Alderweireld started each of Belgium's five matches in France and was crucial to the three consecutive clean sheets that saw his team progress to the quarter-finals.
Giving his customary strong performances in defence and creating chances with long passes into the channels, Alderweireld enjoyed a fine tournament.
That is until the quarter-final against Wales.
In that match, playing in an otherwise inexperienced defensive line, Alderweireld struggled to remain composed and was badly beaten for both Hal Robson-Kanu's effort and Sam Vokes' decisive third goal.
While he was more or less faultless before the quarter-final, Alderweireld fell down this list because of the costliness of his difficulties against Wales.
In an open tournament short on quality, Belgium could easily have seen off Portugal had they resisted Wales.
T7. Mousa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen
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Mousa Dembele played less than an hour for Belgium at Euro 2016, starting against the Republic of Ireland before suffering an ankle injury.
His absence was damaging for the Red Devils as they looked more a talented rabble than a cohesive football team.
Given Dembele's influence on Tottenham, it is fair to suggest they might have seen off Wales if he had been at full fitness.
Jan Vertonghen was another of Spurs' players to exit the tournament early with injury.
Although he made four starts, Vertonghen missed the denouement of Belgium's campaign after suffering ligament damage in training.
In his four appearances, Vertonghen was shifted to full-back to accommodate Marc Wilmots' baffling philosophy and was below his best.
T9. Harry Kane and Dele Alli
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Harry Kane and Dele Alli were among the many England players to underwhelm at Euro 2016.
While they have not been deserving of the invective that has been sent their way since the Three Lions' last-16 exit against Iceland, neither reached anything like his best form in France.
There were moments of brilliance from both, but long stretches of England's games passed them by.
Alli assisted Daniel Sturridge's winner against Wales in his best performance of the tournament but was poor against Iceland.
Kane struggled to impose himself on any of England's games, although Roy Hodgson's inexplicable tactical decisions did him no favours.
The deployment of Wayne Rooney in midfield blunted the quick ball movement Kane thrives on, and he was often isolated for long periods.
Fatigue also evidently impeded his performances, and Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping his preparations for the new season are not too heavily delayed by his recovery.
11. Kevin Wimmer
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Kevin Wimmer played just three minutes at Euro 2016 as Austria crashed out in the group stage.
Fancied as a potential tournament dark horse, they were the only team to fail to progress from Group F.
Wimmer can fairly feel aggrieved at Marcel Koller's decision to omit him for virtually all of Austria's campaign.
He gave faultless performances when called upon for Tottenham last season and would surely have helped his national team's cause.
He finds himself at the bottom of our list through no real fault of his own.
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