Team/Player of Euro 2012

Player: Pirlo

Team:

----------------- Buffon ----------------
Periera -- Pepe -- Barzagli -- Alba
----------- Pirlo -- Moutinho -----------
--------------- Iniesta -----------------
Ozil ------------------------ Ronaldo
----------- Ibrahimovic -------------

Before tonight I would have said Pirlo, but Iniesta is just incredible, I think he might just be the best midfielder I've ever seen, he's been crucial in every success Spain and Barcelona have had over the last few years and was Spain's best player at this tournament IMO, so Iniesta.

Here's one for you, Iniesta or Zidane?!

Finals always are always very influential for my best XI.

Ronaldo Fabregas Iniesta
Pirlo Khedira De Rossi
Alba Ramos Pepe Lahm
Casillas

Player: Pirlo, Iniesta 2nd.
Coach: Del Bosque

Fabregas would be my striker because for me he was the best out of an average bunch this EC. Fabregas was fantastic for a player who is not even a striker. His game winning penalty and his fantastic performance in the final made him my striker in this XI.

Like that line up except I'd take:

Xavi > Ozil

Move Iniesta to the wing and leave Xavi central

Casillas > Buffon

Thought Casillas had a great game

Before tonight I would have said Pirlo, but Iniesta is just incredible, I think he might just be the best midfielder I've ever seen, he's been crucial in every success Spain and Barcelona have had over the last few years and was Spain's best player at this tournament IMO, so Iniesta.

Here's one for you, Iniesta or Zidane?!

This is a question that has cropped up quite often in recent years. I think it's mighty close, but Zidane has the edge in front of goal.

Player of the euro Iniesta/Pirlo. both deserve the price.

Iniesta's CV is immense now, shows up in the big games and been influential in all the success, I can see the argument tbf..

Agree with Bossa's team, but Prandelli as the coach of the tournament and Iniesta as player of tournament.

Iniesta is just sick, ultimate big game player. Barcelona really have some players with clutch ability.

Still cannot understand how Chelsea beat Barcelona, a team thats better than this Spain side.

Buffon
Selassie Hummels Pepe Alba
Pirlo Busquets Moutinho
Iniesta
Ibra Mandzukic

Bench - Coentrao, Khedira, Debuchy, Pilar, Jiracek, Agger, De Rossi, Gomez, Ronaldo, Modric, Strinic, Krohn-Dehli, Dzagoev, Blasczczkowski

Player of the tourney - Iniesta

Here's one for you, Iniesta or Zidane?!

Zidane without a doubt.

Iniesta is half the player without Xavi. Their partnership improves both players.

Player of the tournament - Iniesta

Team of the tournament:

- - - - - - - - - - Casillas
- Debuchy - Pepe - Ramos - Alba
- - - - - - Fabregas - - Pirlo
- Ronaldo - - - - Ozil - - - - Iniesta
- - - - - - - - - - Ibrahimovic

Coach: Del Bosque

Did I miss something?

Del Bosque was a bloody mile off the coach of Euro 2012. Look no further than his opposite number in the final for a better example.

I suggest you look past the winning of his team, to the real quality of his coaching.

Its just my personal preferance that the coach the tourney is the winner(most of the time when he's not lucky like Di Matteo)
Why pick Prandelli when he gets his ass whooped 4-0. Del Bosque just made history today. Nobody will remember Prandelli and Italy in 20 years. Can you name the Italian coach of the losing finalists in the World Cup of 1994?

Prandelli clearly got outcoached today. I got huge respect for the guy and his attacking philosphy which is rare for an Italian. Lovely fell, revolutionized the Italian national team. Would be my coach of the tournament if he didnt got his ass whooped and humiliated in the final.

Buffon
Selassie Hummels Pepe Alba
Pirlo Busquets Moutinho
Iniesta
Ibra Mandzukic

Bench - Coentrao, Khedira, Debuchy, Pilar, Jiracek, Agger, De Rossi, Gomez, Ronaldo, Modric, Strinic, Krohn-Dehli, Dzagoev, Blasczczkowski

Player of the tourney - Iniesta

Hummels was made to look like a clown by Cassano for his assist to Balotelli's first goal. Bit overhyped imo. Been thoroughly impressed by the Portuguese and Italian defenses, even if Spain put 4 past the latter.

Why pick Prandelli when he gets his ass whooped 4-0. Del Bosque just made history today. Nobody will remember Prandelli and Italy in 20 years. Can you name the Italian coach of the losing finalists in the World Cup of 1994?

So this has suddenly went from coach of 2012 to the better overall coach? I'd prefer it if you backed up your initial claim instead of shifting the goalposts.

Prandelli clearly got outcoached today. I got huge respect for the guy and his attacking philosphy which is rare for an Italian. Lovely fell, revolutionized the Italian national team. Would be my coach of the tournament if he didnt got his ass whooped and humiliated in the final.

His team were outplayed. He was not outcoached. There is certainly a difference.

Why pick Prandelli when he gets his ass whooped 4-0. Del Bosque just made history today. Nobody will remember Prandelli and Italy in 20 years. Can you name the Italian coach of the losing finalists in the World Cup of 1994?

So this has suddenly went from coach of 2012 to the better overall coach? I'd prefer it if you backed up your initial claim instead of shifting the goalposts.

Prandelli clearly got outcoached today. I got huge respect for the guy and his attacking philosphy which is rare for an Italian. Lovely fell, revolutionized the Italian national team. Would be my coach of the tournament if he didnt got his ass whooped and humiliated in the final.

His team were outplayed. He was not outcoached. There is certainly a difference.

Outplayed and outcoached goes hand in hand. They were outplayed because they were outcoached. Check Italy Spain in the group stages and you can see that Italy did a better job when they played 352. Prandelli subs were horrible. Spain stepped their game up in the finals and kept Pirlo in check this time, he was man marked out of the game this time.

Hey but if you want to place Prandelli as your best coach then go ahead

Not to mention, Hummels was made to look pretty average against the top movement of RvP. He's certainly shown some weaknesses throughout the Euros.

Coaching is more than just putting 11 quality players on the pitch and letting them do their stuff while you get all the credit later on. Spain might have a great team but someone needs to lead that team, set the tactics, choose the players, keep the ego's in check, keep everyone focused and motivated, make sure everyone knows what they are doing etc. In short someone has to coach that team and its hard to argue that anyone has done better than Del Bosque in this tournament.

Coaching is more than just putting 11 quality players on the pitch and letting them do their stuff while you get all the credit later on. Spain might have a great team but someone needs to lead that team, set the tactics, choose the players, keep the ego's in check, keep everyone focused and motivated, make sure everyone knows what they are doing etc. In short someone has to coach that team and its hard to argue that anyone has done better than Del Bosque in this tournament.

its hard to argue cause he won it...
I would rather choose Paolo Bento/Morten Olsen over Del Bosque for tactics and organization of their respective team during the overall tournament , but hey they lost...

Player of the tournament :
Cesc Fabregas
- as a midfielder turned into a forward, the guy again one of the main reason Spain was dominating. you can look at Iniesta, Xavi or Silva for overall contribution but Cesc's contribution for the crucial moments of Spain's game was indeed magnificent.

Not to mention, Hummels was made to look pretty average against the top movement of RvP. He's certainly shown some weaknesses throughout the Euros.

Hummels showed substantial deficiencies for me when put under a lot of pressure, the games against the Dutch and Italians come to mind. Tbh I thought more highly of him before this tournament.

Iniesta was the player of the tournament for me. The guy is just so dynamic, has so much to offer offensively.

Buffon
Lahm
Pepe
Terry
Alba
Pirlo
Fabregas
Iniesta
Ronaldo
Ozil
Ibrahimovic

Player of the tournament: Cesc Fabregas

----------------Casillas------------
-Debuchy-Pepe-Ramos-Alba-
-----------Pirlo------Xavi----------
--Ronaldo--Iniesta--Dzagoev-
----------------Cesc---------------

Player of the tournament: Iniesta
Coach of the tournament: Prandelli

Warms the heart. Fabregas was crucial in both Euro wins for Spain and played very well last night. Spain are just too bloody good.

Player of the tournament was Pirlo, even though he was destroyed last night.

Casillas

Pereira
Pepe
Ramos
Alba

Khedira
Pirlo
Alonso

Silva
Iniesta
Fabregas

I'd probably say Xavi was MOTM last night, not a great tournament by his high standards but really delivered last night. Immense midfielder, he really is. One of the all-time greats.

----------------Buffon------------
-Perreira--Pepe----Ramos-----Alba-
-----------Pirlo------De Rossi----------
--Ronaldo-------Xavi---------Iniesta-
---------------Ibrahimovic---------------

Player of the tournament: Pirlo
Coach of the tournament: Prandelli

----------------Casillas------------
-Perreira--Pepe----Ramos-----Alba-
-----Iniesta---Pirlo---Moutinho-----
----Ronaldo----Fabregas----Balotelli

- Coentrao and Alba both deserve to be in the best eleven, but after his goal yesterday it has to go to Alba.

POTT: Iniesta
Coach: Prandelli

Casillas

Debuchy Hummels Pepe Coentrao

Iniesta Pirlo Fabregas

Ozil Balotelli Ronaldo


Cheating a bit with the system by bringing Iniesta and Fabregas back into the midfield, but both had to be in there.

Gomez unlucky to miss out because of his goals in the group stages, but Balotelli gets the nod because of that semi-final performance (particularly the second goal). Gone for Coentrao over Alba as I felt he was a bit better defensively. Was very impressed by Debuchy, even though the French weren't up to much.

Honourable mentions to Gerrard, Balzaretti, Dzagoev, Modric and Ibrahimovic.

Player of the tournament has to be Iniesta. As for team, Spain are the obvious choice, and Italy did very well, but I'm tempted to go for Croatia. Limited resources but good to watch and tactically sound. That Modric cross with the outside of his foot against Spain really sticks in the mind, touch of class.

------------Casillas
Debuchy, Hummels, Pepe, Alba
-------------Pirlo
--------Iniesta--Modric
Ronaldo----------------Jiracec
------------Mandzukic

Player of the Tournament: Iniesta by an absolute mile. Superb in every game, and dominated the final.

Thought there was a real lack of outstanding CF performances this tournament.

I'd probably say Xavi was MOTM last night, not a great tournament by his high standards but really delivered last night. Immense midfielder, he really is. One of the all-time greats.

His pass to Alba was out of this world. Hit it so hard but so true, cut through the two defenders as if they wernt their and straight to Alba feet. Props to Alba for the determination, touch and cool finish but without Xavi's vision and accuracy it was nothing.