As is usual for a major tournament,
Euro 2012 has allowed us to witness the full spectrum of players from
World's Best to those who walk a matter of metres to the ground
that's always been their home. This tournament, we've had the
opportunity to see players previously anonymous make a stamp on the
football world – in fact, many of the best performed players aren't
paid by Real Madrid, Liverpool or Juventus, but by smaller clubs.
The tournament is made brighter by those who rise from anonymity.
Here's a previously
relatively-unheralded XI who've made their name at Euro 2012:
GK – Przemyslaw Tyton (Poland):
Despite entering the year the fourth-choice Poland keeper, made
himself a home-country hero by saving a penalty with his first touch
of the tournament. Whether he is replaced by the shaky but
better-credentialled Wojciech Szczesny is now a legitimate question,
a prospect unthinkable before the tournament.
RB – Theodore Gebre Selassie (Czech
Republic): Kills the grass on the right side of the pitch at Slovan
Liberec, who will compete in the 2012-13 Champions League after
winning the Czech Gambrinus Liga. The might do so without
their right back, who will doubtless have admirers after his two
performances so far at Euro 2012.
CB – Mats Hummels (Germany): How can
the most desired young centre-back in world football, playing
for the second-best attended club in Europe, be classified as an
emerging player? Simple: Mats Hummels is elegant on the ball and
resolute off it and gets his work done with the absolute minimum of
fuss without courting attention at all. Releasing him will haunt
Bayern Munich for years.
CB – Damien Perquis (Poland): Perquis
came so close to snatching a win for Poland against Russia while
keeping the tricksy combo of Dzagoev and Arshavin from wreaking havoc
in the Poland defence. He'll should be acquired by larger French
club from Sochaux on the back of his impressive Euros.
LB – Vaclav Pilar (Czech Republic):
Pilar has scored twice so far at Euro 2012 and looks to be another
smart piece of scouting by Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, who have
already arranged for his transfer from Viktoria Plzen.
RM – Mathieu Debuchy (France): It's
no wonder he's been linked with clubs as storied as Manchester United
and Barcelona. Although typically a right-sided defender, he plays
with such attacking zest he fits in well here in the midfield. He
was probably the player of the match in France's first match against
England despite flying under the radar until Lille's emergence last
season.
CM – Roman Shirokov (Russia):
Practised Russian football observers such as James
Appell tipped the thirty-year old as Russia's breakout player.
He lasted all of one match at Euro 2008 at centre-back, but links the
beaters in defence (Berezeutsky and Ignashevich) with the seeker in
attack (Arshavin and Dzagoev).
CM – Niki Zimling (Denmark): His
injury in Denmark's second match allowed the Portuguese a much easier
run in the midfield than Danish coach Morten Olson had hoped.
Regaining him for their crucial encounter with Germany will be
crucial Danish hopes of advancing
LM – Andriy Yarmolenko (Ukraine):
The resounding flop of Andriy Shevchenko at Chelsea may have
previously kept “the new Shevchenko” at Dynamo Kiev. After
wrong-footing a redoubtable Sweden defence on many occasions in the
Ukraine's first match, he's unlikely to be playing domestic ball for
much longer.
AM – Michael Krohn-Dehli (Denmark):
Fizzed the ball between Dutch 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs to
win the Danes their first game of the tournament and leave the Oranje
reeling. A constant worker so far this tournament and able to put
together moments of brilliance despite middling club form at Brondby.
FC – Mario Mandzukic (Croatia): Took
two quality goals in Croatia's first match against Ireland to put the
Balkan nation in a great position in a tough group. Another
discovery by the tireless Wolfsburg scouting system, he doesn't get
much press despite
scoring twenty times last season.
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