After weeks and weeks of joyous international action, all eyes were on Wembley on Sunday night as Italy defeated England to win their second European Championship.
Many player shone will others disappointed but in the end, it was a summer to remember for football fans across Europe and the rest of the world.
Here is the best XI as compiled at PML DAILY.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (ITALY)
Kasper Schmeichel, Jordan Pickford and Tomas Vaclik all had good tournaments, but no goalkeeper made as big a difference for their team as Gianluigi Donarumma did for Italy, he even finished as the player of the tournament.
Still just 22 Donnarumma certainly has room to grow as a keeper but even at his tender age he is already one of the best in the world. It’s frightening to think how good he might become.
DENZEL DUMFRIES (HOLLAND)
The Netherlands might have crashed out in the second round, but Dumfries caught the eyes of the world with his stellar displays at wing-back, amassing two goals and two clean sheets in four games.
LEONARDO BONUCCI (ITALY)
Italy’s success at Euro 2020 was built on a strong defensive foundation and Leonardo Bonucci was their main man at the back. The 34-year-old wasn’t just a physical presence, he was central to the way the Azzurri played out from defence.
Even when Bonucci’s long-time partner Giorgio Chiellini was missing through injury, he held things together.
SIMON KJAER (DENMARK)
Simon Kjaer was praised for the leadership he showed during the events of Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 fixture, but the AC Milan centre back also demonstrated his quality on the pitch. Kjaer was a rock in defence for Denmark and marshalled a back three that took Kasper Hjulmand’s team further than anyone envisaged they would get.
LEONARDO SPINAZZOLA (ITALY)
While Leonardo Spinazzola missed the semi-final and the final through injury, he made his mark in the five games he played for Italy at Euro 2020.
Without the Roma full back as an outlet high up the left wing, Roberto Mancini’s game plan wouldn’t have worked as effectively. Italy lost a dimension when Spinazzola was sidelined for the final two rounds of the tournament.
PAUL POGBA (FRANCE)
Euro 2020 was shaping up to be Paul Pogba’s tournament until France allowed their concentration to slip for the final 10 minutes of their quarter-final against Switzerland. The 28-year-old demonstrated all sides of his game and scored one of the goals of the whole tournament just minutes before Les Blues’ collapse. The level of his performance is shown by the fact he is one of just two players from a team that didn’t make at least the semi-finals.
JORGINHO (ITALY)
There can’t be many unconvinced of Jorginho’s qualities after watching him control games for Italy at Euro 2020. The 29-year-old entered Euro 2020 having won the Champions League for Chelsea and he carried that form into the tournament. Mancini’s system wouldn’t have worked without Jorginho setting the tempo and breaking up opposition moves in the middle.
PEDRI (SPAIN)
You would have never known on the basis of his performances at Euro 2020 that Pedri is still only 18. Everything Spain did at the tournament flowed through the Barcelona playmaker who grew in influence with every match he played. After Spain’s semi-final exit to Italy, Luis Enrique claimed not even Andres Iniesta was as good at 18 as Pedri is. He might have a point.
RAHEEM STERLING (ENGLAND)
There was much pre-tournament debate over whether or not Raheem Sterling should start for England. That debate, however, was settled pretty quickly as the 26-year-old became England’s most reliable source of goals and final third invention. After a difficult club campaign, Euro 2020 saw Sterling back to his best.
CRISTIANO RONALDO (PORTUGAL)
We toed and froed on this selection for a long, long time because my gut reaction was actually Patrick Schick who – as Lionel Messi fans will tell you – has scored more goals from open play.
EMILE FORSBERG (SWEDEN)
With four goals in four games, the Euro 2020 Golden Boot would have been Forsberg’s for the taking if Sweden made it past a Ukraine game in which he sensationally rattled the woodwork twice.
The Subs
1. YANN SOMMER (SWITZERLAND)
2. JOAKIM MAEHLE (DENMARK)
3. LUKE SHAW (ENGLAND)
4. HARRY MAGUIRE (ENGLAND)
5. GIORGIO CHIELLINI (ITALY)
6. KALVIN PHILIPS (ENGLAND)
7. THORGAN HAZARD (BELGIUM)
8. GRANIT XHAKA (SWITZERLAND)
9. PATRICK SCHICK (CZECH REPUBLIC)
10. ROMELU LUKAKU (BELGIUM)
11. ROBIN GOSENS (GERMANY)
