Oliver Kays selects his best XI from Euro 2008

Four Spaniards, two Russians, two Turks, one Portuguese, one German and a Dutchman. Who would have imagined, on the eve of this tournament, that Cristiano Ronaldo would be outshone by a young winger named Arda Turan, that Fernando Torres would be eclipsed by David Villa, at least until the final, or that Petr Cech would be a liability in goal for the Czech Republic?

It has been a tournament that has challenged popular wisdom, particularly on these islands. As if the absence of all the home nations were not not galling enough, even the Premier League's most celebrated imports were outdone by less-hyped Russians, Turks and Croatians as well as the marvellous Spanish. The Premier League was heavily represented, but, of the 77 goals scored in the tournament, only ten were scored by English-based players.

Only Chelsea's Michael Ballack makes our team of the tournament, which raises the question of whether it is becoming possible to shine in a competition at the end of a gruelling Premier League campaign. Or maybe the rest of Europe is just better than we think.

IKER CASILLAS (Spain): Rarely attracts the same kind of plaudits as Petr Cech, who had an awful tournament, or Gianluigi Buffon, but he was Spain's match-winner against Italy in the quarter-final - and not just in the penalty shoot-out - and a worthy recipient of the trophy.

HAMIT ALTINTOP (Turkey): Defies pigeon-holing, having excelled at right-back and in midfield, and is, above all, a footballer. One of the revelations of the finals and one of the reasons why a talented, if slightly chaotic, Turkey team progressed as far as they did.

PEPE (Portugal): Not a competition that will be remembered for defensive brilliance, but Pepe, born in Brazil, impressed at times before he and his team-mates crumbled in the quarter-finals. Still slightly raw at 25. Could be world-class if he matures.

CARLOS MARCHENA (Spain): Started unconvincingly, but grew in stature as Spain progressed. Not the quickest, strongest or most physically imposing of central defenders, but reads the game well. Shades of Roberto Ayala, his former Valencia team-mate.

YURI ZHIRKOV (Russia): Sound defensively and hugely enterprising going forward from left-back. Philipp Lahm would have been a shoo-in for either full-back position but for the lapse that allowed Fernando Torres to score in the final.

MARCOS SENNA (Spain): Another Brazilian with a European passport, he did an essential job for his adopted country, sitting deep and allowing his more eye-catching team-mates to weave their magic further forward.

MICHAEL BALLACK (Germany): A runner-up again, but not for want of trying. At times, against Austria and Portugal, he threatened to run this tournament. The only Premier League player to make this XI.

WESLEY SNEIJDER (Holland): No shortage of attacking flair in this tournament - Andres Iniesta, Deco, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, David Silva - but no player came close to Sneijder early on. Unfortunately he and Holland peaked too soon.

ANDREI ARSHAVIN (Russia): Missed the first two games through suspension and made no impact in the semi-final against Spain, but truly mesmerising in his playmaker's role against Sweden and Holland.

ARDA TURAN (Turkey): One of many unheralded players to emerge over the past month and certain to be on the radar of many scouts in England, Germany, Italy and Spain after some excellent performances. Two-footed and blessed with vision as well as great technique.

DAVID VILLA (Spain): His absence from the final almost went unnoticed, thanks to Torres, but nobody should forget what Villa had done for Spain to that point, even if he scored only once after his hat-trick against Russia in the opening game.

SUBSTITUTES: Artur Boruc (Poland), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Deco (Portugal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia)

Who would you have in your team?

Comments

[Anonymous]

Why aren't there more Dutch and Turkish players? The Dutch scored tons of goals and the Turkey had some amazing comebacks. They don't even have Semih Senturk. That is just pure crap.

[yyyyyyyyyyyyyk]

why isint fabregas der

[will]

wheres modric?

[Ian Humphries]

Xavi best player?? Only in the final before that he was replaced in most games for Fabregas! No one really stood out, could argue this a better debate would be worst 11! Luca Toni,Petr Cech, Lilian Thuram the German Centre halves! some big egos took a beating!!

[Eduardo]

This selection of the "best eleven" is highly debatable - as all such selections always are. I doubt it if more than 3-4 players in these list will appear in other such selections. No doubt that these 3-4 players are Casillas, Senna, and Sneijder, but to leave out the roots and fundamentals of the Spanish success in the center - Iniesta, Xabi and Vila - is a demonstration of why, after all the talk, most commentators still do not understand the new football that Spain practices. The football intellectual IQ between these commentators and Luis Aragones is miles apart. The worst selection in the list is of course Ballack. He is an acceptable footballer, but totally incapable of the creativity of a Cesc, Iniesta or Xabi, and on top of that, he has a nasty and mean streak of wanting to hurt the opponent, and even worst, a poor sportsman, running like a worst version of Ronaldo to ask the fourth referee to get the expulsion of a Spanish player. Ballack fits like a glove in Chelsea - together with "Diver" Drogba - but not as the final top eleven of a tournament graced by ability, creativity, and good sportsmanship.

[El Turco]

of course Altintop better than Ramos.He's not only a right back.He can also play DR,DC,DMC,MC,MR,AMR,AMC...

[Ben]

Without Sergio Ramos as rightback and a place for Cesc, then you have missed the real Euro 2008 XI. Arshavin would only qualify to sit on my bench. In stead of Boruc, I would have the ever-green Edwin van dar Sar to deputize Casillas. I am glad, though, that you omitted Ronaldo because he has the reputation of dropping on to the turf when he collides with an escaping fly! He has a reputation and the referees did not buy his antics that well.

[Agustin]

pffff!! Cesc, Iniesta, Xavi and Silva who has built all spaniard game (the best game that you've ever seen) are not in the list!!!!
If that team that you propose played with spain they don't touch the ball. Surely!!

[Hugo]

Not bad...but what about this one...
Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevilla, Senna (or Alonso), Xavi (or De la Red), Iniesta, Silva (or Cazorla), Villa (or Fabregas) and Torres (or Guiza)
I think you can't find a better team in the tournament

[aidico]

What Ballack do in the European? I Think he doesnt do anything. The problem is there are player that have the fame and there are other like Xavi, Silva or Iniesta that it doesnt famous but better player than Ballack, Deco or Schweinsteiger. You dont understand football, you prefer names that appear in fashion media. Sorry my english

[aidico]

What Ballack do in the European? I Think he doesnt do anything. The problem is there are player that have the fame and there are other like Xavi, Silva or Iniesta that it doesnt famous but better player than Ballack, Deco or Schweinsteiger. You dont understand football, you prefer names that appear in fashion media. Sorry my english

[Hilary]

How on earth can you omit Fabregas??

[xavierette]

you forget Xavi Hernandez, named best player of the Euro.

[Samuel]

Excellent choices. Especially the prodigal Arda Turan.

He's already a 21 year old and gentlemanly version of Hagi, and the sky's the limit for him. Sure to be the epicenter of the Turkish football quake in 2010 that was heralded in 2008.

[Óscar]

Don't you think Xavi, Iniesta, Silva or even Cesc should be on your team? Spain got the best striker and best goalkeeper, but everyone admits that midfielders won the trophy. Xavi was named MVP of the tournament. Sneijder failed against Russia. And, are you sure that Altintop was better than Sergio Ramos?

[frank]

xavi and iniesta were magnificent throughout the tournament, just look at the km they ran and their passes shots genius technique....they have everything !
and arshavin wasnt bad, but to hail him as a big talent only because of one and a half good games is pathetic. especially when you look at his age , hes 27....senna didnt get enough credit for the game against russia, arshavin hasnt had one single touch because senna just killed him off