Best XI: Under-21 European Championship Team of the Tournament 2011

As is custom, Just Football kept a keen eye on proceedings out in Denmark at the 2011 Under-21 European Championships. We put together a list of players to watch beforehand; now without further ado we present to you our Team of the Tournament. As you might expect given they were by far the best two teams on show, Spain and Switzerland are quite heavily represented:

GK: Yann SOMMER (Switzerland) – According to Henry Winter, Manchester United-bound David de Gea ’shone’ at the U-21 tournament in Denmark. I would respectfully disagree. De Gea conceded a penalty for which he might have seen red and was at fault for Belarus’ goal in Spain’s semi-final great escape. One goalkeeper that truly shone however was FC Basel’s Yann Sommer. Skilled shot-stopper, agile and commanding of his area throughout, Sommer was largely responsible for Switzerland’s 4 clean sheets in 5 games – a record at this level.

DR: Ondřej ČELŮSTKA (Czech Republic) – Though understandable from a tactical perspective it was slightly baffling, and, as it turned out, a bad decision, by Czech Republic coach Jakub Dovalil to switch authoritative right back Ondřej Čelůstka to left back for the semi-final game against Switzerland. The aim was to negate Swiss star man Xherdan Shaqiri (more of him on the way), but ultimately it served only to destroy the Czechs’ balance and deprive them an outlet they had used so often. Mobile, efficient in possession and a good crosser of the ball, Čelůstka’s overlapping runs were vital to Czech Republic’s gameplan as demonstrated by the Slavia Prague man’s assist v Ukraine.

DC: Chris SMALLING (England) – The England U-21 centre back’s performances both towards the season’s end for Manchester United and in Denmark are a testament to both the scouting departments at Fulham and the technical team at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old has come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months, not only technically but in his positioning, reading of the game, defensive awareness and authority. Fast becoming the classy centre back both England and United hope for. Excellent here despite England’s unsuccessful tournament.

DC: Jonathan ROSSINI (Switzerland) – “The leader of the team” as he himself described it, Rossini put in a string of assured displays at the heart of the Swiss defence. Another vital component of the team with the joint-best defensive record, the 22-year-old Sampdoria defender (on loan st Serie B’s Sassuolo since January) made a series of crucial last-ditch tackles and blocks during the competition – all under the watchful eye of girlfriend Mariacarla, who travelled 1600 kilometres from Italy to Aalborg by car to watch her man play.

DL: Yaroslav RAKITSKIY (Ukraine) - Identified as one to watch before the tournament, I suppose the best compliment to pay Yaroslav Rakitskiy was that he didn’t look like he should have been there at all. The left-footed Shakhtar Donetsk defender was a cut above his fellow peers in Denmark: powerful, strong in the tackle and a menacing presence, and 10 senior international caps are indicative of his outgrowing Under-21 level football.

CM: Fabian LUSTENBERGER (Switzerland) – A grower more than a shower, Fabian Lustenberger’s hard-running, industrious displays in central midfield may not have dazzled like others in Switzerland’s vibrant team, but the Hertha Berlin player’s work was no less important. Played one-touch passes to keep play fluid wherever possible and fought tirelessly to minimise opponents’ attacking strengths. Not uncommon to see the 23-year-old’s shock of curly blond hair whizzing about all over the pitch whenever the Swiss played.

CM: Thiago ALCÂNTARA (Spain) – His goal deep into the final provided a fitting coup de grâce to an excellent tournament for the Barcelona midfielder. Boasts an exquisite touch and penchant for trying the extravagant, as demonstrated not only by his stunning goal but the delightful array of flicks and tricks on the ball. Carried on the form that made Thiago one of the stars of last summer’s Under-19 European Championship, but with added authority and pizzazz. Who needs Cesc Fabregas?

CM: Javi MARTÍNEZ (Spain) - Just Football’s Player of the Tournament - The dial that kept Spain’s tournament-winning deluxe timepiece ticking. In Denmark Javi Martinez demonstrated near perfectly the understated artform that is keeping things simple. Captain of the side and an ever present, the Bilbao holding midfielder thrilled with magisterial coldness. No saint, Martinez committed the joint-most fouls in the competition, but his steadfast commitment to shielding and keeping hold of the ball was also reflected in the fact he suffered more fouls than anyone bar…

ATT: Xherdan SHAQIRI (Switzerland) – Arguably the breakthrough player of this competition, Switzerland’s buzzsaw attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri emerges as the one player on a definitively higher plain after the attention brought to him via a series of fine performances. Sky commentator Martin Tyler even likened him to Maradona at one point, which may be going a tad far. But with the short, stocky build and lightning quick feet there are vague similarities.

It seems the pair boast matching opinions of themselves too. “I am a special player,” Shaqiri told assembled media during the tournament. “I make the difference.” Slightly too selfish in possession to make him the tournament’s best player as far as I’m concerned (the 19-year-old hit by far the most shots off target), but his threat cutting in-field and between the lines was constant in Denmark and teams began to sit up and make specific plans to negate him – as good a compliment of Shaqiri’s undoubted potential as any.

ATT: Adrián LÓPEZ (Spain) - Are traditional, out-and-out, goal-poaching number 9s a dying breed? Based on evidence at this Under-21 European Championships they could well be. Here, many teams chose to set up with more robust, intelligent, all-round forwards who can contribute more to the team’s overall game.  Spain’s number 7 Adrián López may not be the archetypal number 9 but he was as close to it in Denmark as you might find. López’s job in this Spanish team was simple – put an end product to the wonderful football: the sharp teeth on an otherwise graceful feline. And the 23-year-old performed it with aplomb, hitting 5 goals to win the Golden Boot including a vital equaliser in the dying seconds against Belarus. Question is, does he develop now or stagnate like previous Golden Boot winners Marcus Berg and Maceo Rigters?

ATT: Juan MATA (Spain) – Another excellent performer, again the greatest compliment one can pay Valencia’s master craftsman and Rooney lookalike is that he looked way above the level of an average Under-21 player. And as a World Cup winner and regular at one of Spain’s biggest clubs, so he should. Two goals, two assists, winner of the Bronze Boot; Mata’s creativity and intelligence, not to mention wonderfully threaded through balls, wreaked havoc on defences throughout the tournament.

Substitutes: Haraldur Björnsson (Iceland), Stanislaw Drahun (Belarus), Ondřej Mazuch (Czech Republic), Alberto Botia (Spain), Fabian Frei (Switzerland), Iker Muniain (Spain), Admir Mehmedi (Switzerland), Ander Herrera (Spain).

Just Football

Alberto Botia, Best XI, Chris Smalling, Czech Republic, England, Fabian Lustenberger, Javi Martinez, Jonathan Rossini, Juan Mata, Ondrej Celustka, Spain, Switzerland, Thiago Alcantara, Ukraine, Under-21 European Championships, Xherdan Shaqiri, Yann Sommer, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Youth Football