EURO 2024 dream team – from Yamal’s youth to Pepe’s prowess

As the European Football Championship concluded with Spain’s triumph, it’s no surprise that OlyBet.TV’s best XI of the tournament is predominantly composed of Luis de la Fuente’s men.

Before diving into the selection, let’s clear up one thing: a team of the tournament only makes sense if all players are positioned in their rightful spots. For instance, you can’t name Cody Gakpo the best center forward of the tournament if he didn’t play a single second in that role.

This also dictated the formation choice. A 4-3-3 allows us to assemble a team where every player is exactly where they belong.

Goalkeeper – Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)

Which goalkeeper had the most work in the Euros? Mamardashvili, as he made the most saves in the tournament – 29 – beating his nearest rival by 11, all while playing two fewer matches.

Mamardashvili had a lot to do because Georgia’s defense lacked quality. Although he conceded eight goals, the situation could have been much worse without a goalkeeper of Mamardashvili’s quality guarding Georgia’s goal.

Left back – Marc Cucurella (Spain)

Cucurella and left winger Nico Williams formed a seamless tandem, with Cucurella constantly moving up and down the left flank to widen the pitch and provide Williams with more space. Remarkably, Cucurella never faltered defensively, a significant quality mark for such an active full-back.

Center backs – Pepe (Portugal) and Fabian Schär (Switzerland)

The 41-year-old Pepe was formidable both on the pitch and statistically. The Brazilian-born center back made numerous interceptions, cleared the ball repeatedly, and almost faultlessly stopped opponents. The only player who significantly troubled him was Benjamin Šeško, but fortunately for Pepe, the Slovenian star didn’t convert his chances.

While Pepe is a traditional center back, Schär enjoys playing with the ball, best exemplified by his quarterfinal performance against England, where his pass into the penalty area led to Breel Embolo’s goal.

Defensively, Schär was a wall similar to Pepe, shutting down opponents both on the ground and in the air.

France’s rock-solid William Saliba narrowly missed out on this selection, competing for a spot with Schär.

Right back – Jules Kounde (France)

Kounde, who made his name as a center back, was a cornerstone of France’s strong defense. He was also commendable when joining the attack, even though this isn’t his strongest suit.

Kounde particularly shone in defensive duels and recovering the ball.

Midfielders – Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz, and Rodri (Spain)

A predictable choice, right? Indeed, but what can you do when this trio worked flawlessly.

Rodri cannot be left out of the selection since the defensive midfielder was named the tournament’s best player. Olmo scored three goals and provided two assists, while Ruiz had two goals and two assists. Additionally, their ability to press opponents and distribute the ball when they won it back cannot be overlooked.

German stars Jamal Musiala and Toni Kroos also deserve an honorable mention, but whether you focus on statistics or what happened on the pitch, it’s undeniable that the Spanish trio dominated midfield in this year’s Euros.

This doesn’t imply that Musiala and Kroos had poor tournaments, of course not! But neither of them outperformed Olmo, Ruiz, or Rodri.

Left winger – Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)

Choosing between Gakpo and Spain’s Nico Williams was a tough task. Ultimately, the Dutchman was favored not to avoid having too many Spaniards in the dream team, but because his directness, elite movement, and consistent goal-scoring made Gakpo a standout player.

Obviously, Williams had a strong tournament for Spain, but his performances were more inconsistent compared to Gakpo’s. Additionally, his impact was somewhat overshadowed by the overall strength and performance of the Spanish team, which didn’t rely on him as heavily as the Netherlands pinned their hopes on Gakpo.

Right winger – Lamine Yamal (Spain)

This choice is so clear that words are almost unnecessary. Yamal became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the Euros and played exceptionally mature football at the age of 17. In addition to his goal, he recorded four assists, setting a record for the Spanish national team in a single Euros tournament.

Center forward – Georges Mikautadze (Georgia)

Yes, Georgia didn’t get very far in the tournament, but when talking about pure strikers, Mikautadze was the best. He was among the few who scored three goals and also provided one assist, all while playing in a team that focused mostly on counterattacks. Mikautadze, both quick and strong, played a significant role in making these counterattacks dangerous.

It’s also noteworthy that Mikautadze scored in three out of four games, only failing to find the net against Spain. In other words, the Georgian was consistent.