The European Championship is set to begin in a fortnight, and with the grand tournament upon us, let’s look at the best XI for the top teams in the competition:
Spain
- GK: Unai Simon
- LB: Jordi Alba
- CB: Aymeric Laporte
- CB: Pau Torres
- RB: Cesar Azpilicueta
- CM: Marcos Llorente
- CM: Koke
- CM: Rodri
- LW: Ferran Torres
- RW: Dani Olmo
- ST: Alvaro Morata
Spain are heading into the European Championship with a new team that consists of no Real Madrid players. New blood like Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Marcos Llorente and Pau Torres now have a chance to make a mark on the big stage.
Italy
- GK: Gigio Donnarumma
- LB: Cristiano Biraghi
- CB: Alessandro Bastoni
- CB: Leonardo Bonucci
- RB: Alessandro Florenzi
- CM: Marco Verratti
- CM: Nicolo Barella
- CM: Manuel Locatelli
- LW: Federico Chiesa
- RW: Lorenzo Insigne
- ST: Ciro Immobile
Jorginho has been left out due to his Champions League final commitments, and Italy themselves head into the tournament as underdogs. However, with good talent on their hands regardless, they could pull off a surprise.
Portugal
- GK: Rui Patricio
- RB: Joao Cancelo
- CB: Jose Fonte
- CB: Ruben Dias
- LB: Raphael Guerreiro
- CM: Danilo Pereira
- CM: Joao Moutinho
- CAM: Bruno Fernandes
- LW: Joao Felix
- RW: Bernardo Silva
- ST: Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal are heading into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the whole thing. The defending champions could bag the trophy once again with their squad starring Ruben Dias, João Felix, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Germany
- GK: Manuel Neuer
- LB: Robin Gosens
- CB: Mats Hummels
- CB: Antonio Rudiger
- RB: Lukas Klostermann
- CM: Joshua Kimmich
- CM: Leon Goretzka
- CM: Thomas Muller
- LW: Serge Gnabry
- RW: Leroy Sane
- ST: Timo Werner
Joachim Low’s last tournament in charge of Germany has seen some experienced names like Hummels and Muller return to the national team. Kai Havertz falls behind Muller, and the blazing-fast front three of Gnabry, Werner and Sane could rip oppositions apart if things go their way.
Belgium
- GK: Thibaut Courtois
- CB: Toby Alderweireld
- CB: Jason Denayer
- CB: Jan Vertonghen
- RM: Thomas Meunier
- CM: Youri Tielemans
- CM: Axel Witsel
- LM: Thorgan Hazard
- LAM: Eden Hazard
- RAM: Kevin De Bruyne
- ST: Romelu Lukaku
Belgium head into the tournament with a squad littered with talent. The midfield of the returning Axel Witsel and Youri Tielemans, along with Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and albeit misfiring Eden Hazard in attack could light things up for the Red Devils this time.
England
- GK: Dean Henderson
- LB: Ben Chilwell
- CB: John Stones
- CB: Harry Maguire
- RB: Kyle Walker
- CM: Declan Rice
- CM: Jordan Henderson
- CM: Mason Mount
- LW: Marcus Rashford
- RW: Phil Foden
- ST: Harry Kane
England have stumbled upon their second golden generation, and head into the tournament as one of the favourites. Gareth Southgate will have a tough time choosing the full-back, midfield and attacking options, but the defensive duo of Stones and Maguire is set to play throughout the tournament.
France
- GK: Hugo Lloris
- LB: Lucas Hernandez
- CB: Raphael Varane
- CB: Presnel Kimpembe
- RB: Benjamin Pavard
- CM: N’Golo Kante
- CM: Paul Pogba
- CM: Adrien Rabiot
- LF: Antoine Griezmann
- RF: Kylian Mbappe
- ST: Karim Benzema
France head into the tournament as the favourites to add to their World Cup victory, and the return of Karim Benzema has added some serious momentum to their chances. They arguably have the best attack of all the teams, and the midfield of Kante, Pogba and Rabiot only adds to the threat.
