EURO 2024 Team Of The Tournament

Spain were crowned European champions on Sunday night after beating England 2-1 in the EURO2024 final. The Spaniards have won all seven games they have played. Became the first European team to win 7/7 at a major tournament. On Sunday night, they controlled most of the game, dominating possession, shots, xG (1.95-0.53), and most importantly goals. There have been other standout individual players in the tournament based in Germany, and in the last By The Numbers for EURO2024, we bring you the Statistical Team of the Tournament.

Goalkeeper: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)

Debutants Georgia were one of the most exciting teams to watch until they were knocked out by eventual champions Spain. Despite this, keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had a stellar tournament, saving 21 of the 22 shots on target he faced before Spain’s opening goal. Based on the quality of shots on target faced using xG, he prevented the most goals of any keeper at EURO2024 (8 conceded from 12.7 xG on target).

Jules Kounde (France)

The Barcelona defender was one of the standout performers for a French side that only got their first open-play goal in the semi-finals. Their solid defence was the main reason they got that far with a blunt attack. Kounde was impressive, particularly in crunch knockout games against Jeremy Doku (where he won Man of the Match) & Rafael Leao. He led France for tackles attempted (18), tackles won (12) and challenges won against dribblers (10).

Pepe (Portugal)

Pepe rolled back the years and was a rock at the back for Portugal until their exit from the tournament. In the four games that he played, his team conceded just once. No Portuguese player attempted more challenges (13) or completed more challenges (7) on opposition dribblers, while his 26 clearances were at least 14 more than the next-highest Portuguese player.

Aymeric Laporte (Spain)

The former Manchester City player has shown that he can still excel at the highest level. Although playing center-back, Laporte was a key weapon in how Spain attacked. He had more touches and passes for Spain which is unsurprising. Yet, he often he drove upfield with the ball, helping break the opposition’s defensive lines. No player had a higher carrying distance (moving the ball while controlling it with their feet) at the tournament, and a higher progressive carry distance (moving the ball forward with feet).

Marc Cucurella (Spain)

An underrated player but a crucial part of the Spain setup. Nico Williams and Fabian Ruiz had the freedom to roam ahead of him, knowing Cucurella would provide protection should they lose the ball. He was the Spanish player who won the most tackles (7) and was 5th highest in the entire tournament (for context more than 300 outfield players completed at least 90 minutes). Cucurella was also adept at reading danger and led Spain for blocks (9) and interceptions (8 – third in the entire tournament)

Rodri (Spain)

The official UEFA Player of The Tournament. Rodri attempted more tackles than any Spanish player (13), but his buildup play has seen him recognized as the best among his peers. As he does at club level, Rodri was the beating heart of the Spanish midfield. He completed 408 passes at the tournament, behind only Aymeric Laporte among Spanish players. His pass completion rate of 93% places him joint-third among all midfielders at the tournament.

Toni Kroos (Germany)

In Germany’s first game against Scotland, Kroos completed 99% of his passes against Scotland (101/102); the highest completion rate on record (since 1980) by any player to attempt 100+ passes in a game at the EUROs. That set the tone for his tournament, and even in his elimination game, Kroos completed more passes (76) and touched the ball more often (102) than any other player on the pitch. His major tournament pass map is like a work of art.

Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)

Switzerland is one of only three teams that did not lose a game at the tournament, alongside Spain and Slovenia. The key part of the Swiss machine was captain Granit Xhaka, who led by example in progressing play. Xhaka led Switzerland for touches (445 – 80 more than the next Swiss player), carries (295 – 6th for midfielders at the tournament), and passes completed (Top 5 among midfielders). Xhaka also won Man of the Match twice, more than any Swiss player.

Fabian Ruiz (Spain)

If we had a say in Player of the Tournament, Fabian Ruiz Penda would be our nominee. Only Aymeric Laporte had more touches than Ruiz for Spain. Among all sole midfielders at the tournament, Ruiz has been the leader for progressive carrying distance (the total distance a player moved the ball while controlling it with his feet towards the opposition goal). He also chipped in with two goals and two assists.

Lamine Yamal (Spain)

He may not have scored in the final, but Yamal (17y1d) became the youngest-ever player to appear in a World Cup/Euro final, beating Pelé’s record from WorldCup 58 (17y, 249d). All tournament, Yamal has impressed as a creative outlet for Spain. He smashed the record for chances created by a teenager at EUROs (he was 13, now 19), and was the tournament leader for big chances created (8) and shot-creating actions – passes/take-ons or fouls drawn that lead directly to a shot. What a tournament for the youngster.

Dani Olmo (Spain)

In Dani Olmo, Spain had an able replacement for star player Pedri. He may not have won Man of the Match in Spain’s dead rubber game against Albania, but Olmo was one of the best players. In the quarter-final against Germany, Olmo finally got the Man of the Match award. He ended the tournament with the Golden Boot (thanks to two assists on top of his three goals), but his 90th-minute goalline clearance in the final was worth a goal on its own.

*Stats from Opta