Old Juve
Fansided

Euro 2020: Old Juve’s Team of the Tournament

By James Cormack

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Leonardo Bonucci (L) of Italy celebrates with Federico Chiesa after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by GES-Sportfoto/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Leonardo Bonucci (L) of Italy celebrates with Federico Chiesa after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by GES-Sportfoto/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next

RW – Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa was Italy’s star of the knockout phase. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Federico Chiesa was Italy’s star of the knockout phase. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) /

Federico Chiesa’s tournament didn’t kick into gear until the round of 16 as Mancini entrusted Domenico Berardi with the starting right-wing berth to start Italy’s campaign. However, once Chiesa caught fire, there was no way back for Berardi.

The 23-year-old channelled his inner Dennis Bergkamp to help Italy squeeze past Austria in the first knockout round before his magic in transition was on full display as he scored a delighful opener in the Azzurri’s semi-final triumph over Spain.

He was then Italy’s most potent threat in the final against England; coming close to scoring twice following two dazzling sequences. His exhibition was cut short on Sunday night due to an innocuous injury, but not before he had stated his name to the world.

ST – Patrik Schick

Patrik Schick will feel hard done by to lose out on the Golden Boot to his “idol” Cristiano Ronaldo, so we’ve offered the Czech some consolation by putting him in our Team of the Tournament. Same thing, really.

Schick was the star of a resolute and well-coached Czech Republic side as his five strikes helped them to an unlikely quarter-final berth. The quality of his goals were remarkable, too.

The halfway line audacity to sink the Scots on Matchday 1 will be remembered as one of the all-time great European Championship goals.

LW – Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling was crucial in England reaching the final. (Photo by Carl Recine – Pool/Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling was crucial in England reaching the final. (Photo by Carl Recine – Pool/Getty Images) /

It was Raheem Sterling who really had the English believing that it was their time. That after 55 years of hurt, football was finally coming home.

The Three Lions would fall short in the most heartbreaking of fashions, but Sterling’s tournament will go down in English football folklore. Had England prevailed in the shootout on Sunday night, there’s no doubting that he would’ve been named Player of the Tournament.

He set his side on their way by scoring the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage before netting the simple but unforgettable opener against Germany in the round of 16.

Arguably, his two most impressive displays came when he failed to score against Ukraine and Denmark in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively. Nevertheless, Sterling was the man who won the spot-kick that sent England through to their first major final since 1966.

It was Raheem who made a nation dream.

Home/Juventus News