France and Wales players dominate the Euro 2016 team of the quarter-finals

04 July 2016 14:23

But hosts France and tournament debutants Wales were scintillating as both booked their place in the last-four.

Here's our pick of the best performers from the four quarter-final ties.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Conceding a goal for the first time in this tournament against Italy, it was still only a spot-kick, needlessly given away by defender Jerome Boateng, that could beat Manuel Neuer.

But the ever-reliable Neuer denied Leonardo Bonucci and Matteo Darmian in the penalty shootout as Germany progressed.

Defender

Chris Gunter (Wales)

With brother Marc's wedding scheduled to take place 24 hours after a potential semi-final, you could have forgiven Chris Gunter for being slightly distracted against Belgium.

But the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back was imperious on the right flank and sent in a pin-point cross for the third goal.

He is not completely absolved of best man duties, however. Gunter is set to deliver his speech via Skype.

Defender

Ashley Williams (Wales)

Centre-back Ashley Williams was cradling his arm by the end of the last-16 victory over Northern Ireland, so severe did a bang on the shoulder appear to be.

But any doubts over his fitness disappeared when he powered in Wales' equaliser against Belgium and then was equal to the task of taming Everton striker Romelu Lukaku at the other end of the field.

Defender

Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)

Despite having never previously taken a penalty in his career, Leonardo Bonucci displayed nerves of steel to equalise from the spot against Germany, 12 minutes from the end of their quarter-final.

He was assured at the back as Germany struggled to break down a typically stubborn defence.

The blot on his copybook though, was seeing his spot-kick in the shootout saved by Neuer

Defender

Pepe (Portugal)

The Real Madrid rascal has reminded us all in this tournament that he is as good a defender as he is a thespian.

Most often seen in Spain rolling on the floor in 'pain', Pepe has shouldered the bulk of Portugal's defensive duties in this tournament and is a big factor in the stat that sees them into the last-four despite having not won a game inside 90 minutes.

Midfielder

Joe Allen (Wales)

The Welsh Xavi! Joe Allen is unheralded for the work he does at Liverpool, but for Wales he is utterly indispensible.

While Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey tend to be the match-winners, Allen plays a key role in dictating the tempo of a game and did so with aplomb against Belgium's star-studded midfield.

His desire to chase and harry in the dying minutes relieved a huge amount of pressure.

Midfielder

Renato Sanches (Portugal)

Move over Cristiano? Not quite yet perhaps, but Renato Sanches certainly has all the hallmarks of becoming Portuguese football's next big star.

He became the youngest-ever starter for Portugal at a major tournament and marked his landmark appearance with a goal.

In doing so the 18-year-old also became the youngest player to score in a knockout game at a European Championship.

Midfielder

Dimitri Payet (France)

Wing wizard Dimitri Payet scored his third goal of the European Championship as he continues to overshadow the more established names in the France line-up.

An arrowed strike, the third in a 5-2 defeat of Iceland, effectively put the outcome of the contest to bed before half-time.

West Ham United fans, we understand.

Forward

Antoine Griezmann (France)

Leading the way in the Golden Boot standings, Antoine Griezmann's fourth goal of the tournament was a thing of beauty.

The Atletico Madrid man latched on to a flick from Olivier Giroud, the 14th pass in a fine France move, and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.

Forward

Olivier Giroud (France)

Ten goals in his last nine starts for France is the kind of form that could see Olivier Giroud fire France to Euro 2016 glory.

He opened the scoring against Iceland with a low angled drive and then headed in the fifth.

Giroud was replaced after an hour by Andre-Pierre Gignac with the Arsenal man's mission already accomplished.

Forward

Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales)

What. A. Goal.

Locked at 1-1 with Belgium in a contest that could seemingly go either way Hal Robson-Kanu, currently a free agent after his contract with Reading expired this summer, collected the ball with his back to goal and beat the entire Belgium defence with one exquisite turn before firing low past Thibaut Courtois.

The 27-year-old will dine out on that strike for the rest of his life.

Best goal: Antoine Griezmann (France v Iceland)

Only two other goals at Euro 2016 have been preceded by more passes than Antoine Griezmann's against Iceland.

The last of them saw a deft flick from Olivier Giroud leave the Atletico Madrid man with only goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson to beat, and he did so with a supreme lob akin to Lionel Messi's trademark finish.

Best save: Manuel Neuer (Germany v Italy)

The 30-year-old stopper brilliantly palmed away Matteo Darmian's penalty in a marathon shootout as Germany got the better of Italy for the first time in tournament football.

It was one of four penalties missed by Italy, with Neuer saving from Leonardo Bonucci, while Simone Zaza and Graziano Pelle both missed the target.

Biggest disappointment: Portugal boring us all to tears, again

If you have had the misfortune to watch Portugal in the knockout stage you would think they had no desire to win Euro 2016.

A tepid display against Poland followed the last-16 snoozefest against Croatia.

It is hard to fathom quite how they have made it this far, but perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo and his band of merry men are about to peak at the perfect time.

Best surprise: Welsh come from behind to beat world No2 team Belgium

In their first major tournament since 1958 and boasting a host of English-based players that would have struggled to break into the Three Lions' 23-man party, Wales continue to put their neighbours to shame.

Goals from Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes sent European Championship debutants Wales into the last four, despite having fallen behind to Radja Nainggolan's 13th-minute strike.

Source: Sportsbeat