Players should be judged on Euros performances only
Team P-Nut
Team Prolifik
P-Nut Writeup
A team built around the greatest performer ever seen at a single euros championship - Platini. He has everything he needs here to thrive and play his natural game.
DEFENCE
A bog standard defence with the only slight variation being Lahms ability to build play from the back right side. The only difference from last round is that Breitner adds his attacking qualities to the LB spot, it was at the Euros that he shot to worldwide fame with his attacking style.
MIDFIELD
Deschamps anchors the midfield, with Fabregas taking on play making duties and travelling through the lines with the ball. Platini spearheads the midfield with a license to do as he pleases.
ATTACK
Arshavin and Poborsky take the wing spots, Arshavin playing slightly narrower to allow a Breitner overlap. Poborsky stays wide (utilising his 1 on 1 dribbling) allowing Lahm to underlap and help the midfield. Riva plays as a focal point for the attack feeding on the through balls of Arshavin and Platini, with the crosses of Poborsky adding a different threat.
Every single player has featured in the team of the tournament at least once, with a host of winners or runners up across the squad.
Prolifik writeup
Our shape is partly inspired by the Magic Square (really a slightly lopsided diamond) that France used to win Euro 1984. Zidane is of course the Platini equivalent, orchestrating from behind the front two. Modrić is similar to Giresse as a bit more of a creative box-to-box shuttler on right - the role where he excels at club level - while Davids offers a Tigana-esque mix of technique and tenacity on the left. Busquets sits at the base, albeit with a more static approach than Fernandez. Between our numerical superiority and the sheer talent and intelligence of this quartet, we should be able to exert considerable control over the flow of the game.
Up front, Henry plays a vital role as a roving forward who loves to drift across the front, especially out to the left flank where he can use his blistering pace to take his man on either cutting inside or driving to the byline. Apart from his general brilliance, he's also the kind of striker you need to help stretch the defence when playing a diamond. The 2000 Final was a perfect illustration of how devastating he can be in this role, as he ran Nesta and Cannavaro ragged all game.
Schick is also clever at running the channels, but will play a more orthodox centre-forward's role. Both are among the most profilic goalscorers in Euros history, so we won't lack for cutting edge.
The defence is rock solid with Zoff between the posts, Kohler as the old-fashioned stopper, Akanji (for my money the best defender at Euro 2024) as more of the "ball-playing CB" type, and two world-class full-backs in Gerets and Cole who excel at both ends of the pitch. Gerets in particular is one of the more aggressive attacking full-backs of his era, and his directness and verticality will open up space for Yamal on the right. Both are also strong defensively, which is where Cole in particular shines as his 2004 performance against a young Cristiano Ronaldo helped burnish his reputation.
A brief summary of my players' stats and accolades if anyone cares:
Team P-Nut
Team Prolifik
P-Nut Writeup
A team built around the greatest performer ever seen at a single euros championship - Platini. He has everything he needs here to thrive and play his natural game.
DEFENCE
A bog standard defence with the only slight variation being Lahms ability to build play from the back right side. The only difference from last round is that Breitner adds his attacking qualities to the LB spot, it was at the Euros that he shot to worldwide fame with his attacking style.
MIDFIELD
Deschamps anchors the midfield, with Fabregas taking on play making duties and travelling through the lines with the ball. Platini spearheads the midfield with a license to do as he pleases.
ATTACK
Arshavin and Poborsky take the wing spots, Arshavin playing slightly narrower to allow a Breitner overlap. Poborsky stays wide (utilising his 1 on 1 dribbling) allowing Lahm to underlap and help the midfield. Riva plays as a focal point for the attack feeding on the through balls of Arshavin and Platini, with the crosses of Poborsky adding a different threat.
Every single player has featured in the team of the tournament at least once, with a host of winners or runners up across the squad.
Prolifik writeup
Our shape is partly inspired by the Magic Square (really a slightly lopsided diamond) that France used to win Euro 1984. Zidane is of course the Platini equivalent, orchestrating from behind the front two. Modrić is similar to Giresse as a bit more of a creative box-to-box shuttler on right - the role where he excels at club level - while Davids offers a Tigana-esque mix of technique and tenacity on the left. Busquets sits at the base, albeit with a more static approach than Fernandez. Between our numerical superiority and the sheer talent and intelligence of this quartet, we should be able to exert considerable control over the flow of the game.
Up front, Henry plays a vital role as a roving forward who loves to drift across the front, especially out to the left flank where he can use his blistering pace to take his man on either cutting inside or driving to the byline. Apart from his general brilliance, he's also the kind of striker you need to help stretch the defence when playing a diamond. The 2000 Final was a perfect illustration of how devastating he can be in this role, as he ran Nesta and Cannavaro ragged all game.
Schick is also clever at running the channels, but will play a more orthodox centre-forward's role. Both are among the most profilic goalscorers in Euros history, so we won't lack for cutting edge.
The defence is rock solid with Zoff between the posts, Kohler as the old-fashioned stopper, Akanji (for my money the best defender at Euro 2024) as more of the "ball-playing CB" type, and two world-class full-backs in Gerets and Cole who excel at both ends of the pitch. Gerets in particular is one of the more aggressive attacking full-backs of his era, and his directness and verticality will open up space for Yamal on the right. Both are also strong defensively, which is where Cole in particular shines as his 2004 performance against a young Cristiano Ronaldo helped burnish his reputation.
A brief summary of my players' stats and accolades if anyone cares:
Dino Zoff (1968, 1980)
- 7 games (2 goals conceded)
- Champion: 1968
- TOTT: 1968, 1980
Eric Gerets (1980)
- 4 games (1 goals)
- Runner-up: 1980
Jürgen Kohler (1988, 1992, 1996)
- 10 games (0 goals)
- Champion: 1996; Runner-up: 1992
- TOTT: 1992
Manuel Akanji (2020, 2024)
- 10 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2024
Ashley Cole (2004, 2012)
- 8 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2004
Sergio Busquets (2012, 2016, 2020)
- 14 games (0 goals)
- Champion: 2012
- TOTT: 2012
Luka Modrić (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)
- 16 games (4 goals)
- TOTT: 2008
Edgar Davids (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 12 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2000
Zinedine Zidane (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 14 games (5 goals)
- Champion: 2000
- TOTT: 2000, 2004
- POTT: 2000
Patrik Schick (2020, 2024)
- 7 games (6 goals)
- Silver Boot: 2020
Thierry Henry (2000, 2004, 2008)
- 11 games (6 goals)
- Champion: 2000
- TOTT: 2000
- 7 games (2 goals conceded)
- Champion: 1968
- TOTT: 1968, 1980
Eric Gerets (1980)
- 4 games (1 goals)
- Runner-up: 1980
Jürgen Kohler (1988, 1992, 1996)
- 10 games (0 goals)
- Champion: 1996; Runner-up: 1992
- TOTT: 1992
Manuel Akanji (2020, 2024)
- 10 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2024
Ashley Cole (2004, 2012)
- 8 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2004
Sergio Busquets (2012, 2016, 2020)
- 14 games (0 goals)
- Champion: 2012
- TOTT: 2012
Luka Modrić (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)
- 16 games (4 goals)
- TOTT: 2008
Edgar Davids (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 12 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2000
Zinedine Zidane (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 14 games (5 goals)
- Champion: 2000
- TOTT: 2000, 2004
- POTT: 2000
Patrik Schick (2020, 2024)
- 7 games (6 goals)
- Silver Boot: 2020
Thierry Henry (2000, 2004, 2008)
- 11 games (6 goals)
- Champion: 2000
- TOTT: 2000