Euro 2020: Old Juve’s Team of the Tournament
Italy’s coronation as European champions following their dramatic penalty shootout victory over England leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Nothing against the Azzurri, they were great, but their triumph at Wembley on Sunday night drew one of the great international tournaments to a close.
There was an unsettling feeling of “what happens now?” once the dust had settled on Italy’s victory.
For Juventini, they’ll be readying themselves for the start of Juve’s pre-season on July 14 but before we, Old Juve, return to our typical Bianconeri content, it’s time to reveal our Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament. Jyotirmoy Halder and I (James Cormack) have worked together to conjure up an XI that differs slightly from UEFA’s official TOTT.
So, without further ado, here’s Old Juve’s Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament.
GK – Gianluigi Donnarumma
UEFA’s Player of the Tournament.
The heroics of man-mountain Gianluigi Donnarumma in the semi-final and final penalty shootouts ultimately steered Italy to glory, as he saved from Alvaro Morata to help the Azzurri past Spain before saving two spot-kicks on the spin to break English hearts.
The soon-to-be PSG goalkeeper conceded just four goals in 719 minutes of action, with his work to deny Kevin De Bruyne in the quarter-finals a standout moment from the tournament.
Those wrists should be admired in the Uffizi Gallery.
RB – Joakim Maehle
Atalanta’s Joakim Maehle was introduced into Kasper Hjulmand’s side following Christian Eriksen’s near-tragedy as Denmark switched to a 3-4-3 following their defeat to Finland on Matchday 1.
The right-footed Maehle may have unconventionally played as a left wing-back throughout the tournament, but we just had to get him in this side. He was sensational. The Dane starred on Matchday 3 against Russia and in the first two knockout rounds to help a galvanised Denmark reach the semi-finals.
Maehle scored twice and notched arguably the assist of the tournament against the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. Only Luka Modric could replicate such virtuosity with the outside of his boot.
CB – Leonardo Bonucci
One of our own. Leonardo Bonucci’s superb tournament went under the radar as a result of Giorgio Chiellini’s more noticeable heroics.
Nevertheless, Bonucci was ever-present in Roberto Mancini’s defence and once again forged a stout relationship with longtime partner in crime Chiellini, who missed two games because of a thigh strain.
The Juventus veteran was a calming figure throughout the tournament, helping Italy to four clean sheets. He also scored in both of the Azzurri’s penalty shootouts triumphs and was the quickest to react to the loose ball in the box for Italy’s equaliser in the final.
Overall, this was a legacy-defining campaign for the 34-year-old, who claimed the ‘Star of the Match’ award in the final.
CB – Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire had a huge impact on the England side following his introduction into Gareth Southgate’s XI after their stalemate with Scotland.
Maguire offered plenty with possession and was unflappable defensively. There were times when the Manchester United man looked utterly dominant. In fact, he won 84% of his aerials duels at the tournament (21/25), the best winning percentage in recorded Euros history (since 1980) for any player involved in 25 aerial duels at a single edition.
It’s a shame his thunderba*stard of a penalty in the final will long be forgotten.
LB – Luke Shaw
Leonardo Spinazzola enjoyed an incredible tournament prior to his devastating Achilles rupture in the quarter-finals, but we’ve handed this spot to Luke Shaw who, for the best part of an hour, was the man bringing football home following his well-taken goal in the final.
That strike capped off a stellar campaign for Shaw, or ‘Shawberto Carlos’ as he became known in the England camp.
The marauding Manchester United left-back was a crucial part of England’s deadly dynamic down the left flank as he finished the tournament with three assists – the most by any defender.