My Euro 2016 team of the Tournament

Sadly, the European Championships came to an end last week, and the fact that it is another four years until Europe's elite compete against one another again feels like a lifetime away. Like me, you may too be in disbelief as to how a Portugal team that finished third-place in their group behind Hungary and Iceland managed to run out victors. But it's now time to recognise which players performed best. So, with that, here is my team of the tournament:

Manuel Neuer

Germany's no.1 had a fantastic campaign, despite his teams disappointing exit in the semi-finals. Neuer is fortunate to have had a sturdy defence in front of him, but that should not take away from how important he was between the sticks. The stopper is widely known for the sweeper-keeper role he plays, and that was no different at the Euros; Neuer saved his defence on many occasions coming out of his box to deal with long-balls over the top. Also, his distribution is vastly underrated, at 6 foot 4 inches, it is uncommon for a player to possess such great passing ability, let alone a goalkeeper - this provided a great platform for his team to begin attacks.

In the group stage, Neuer went through all three games without conceding a goal, which was then followed by yet another clean sheet in the last 16 against Slovakia. Neuer was finally beaten for the first time in the tournament in the quarter-final clash against Italy, when Leonardo Bonucci slotted past him from the penalty spot. The tie would then go on to a penalty shootout, in which, Neuer saved two spot-kicks to help his side progress through. A huge semi-final match against France was their reward and, unfortunately, it is a game the keeper will not look back on too fondly. He was once again faced with the task of saving a penalty-kick, but was unable to do so as Antoine Griezmann sent him the wrong way. Then, mid-way through the second-half, the usually dependable Neuer made an uncustomary error by dropping the ball in his area and was consequently punished by Griezmann. A sad end to Neuer's Euros, but he was still the most impressive keeper throughout the tournament.

Ashley Williams

The Welsh captain was fabulous throughout Euro 2016. The English-born centre-half was the linchpin of the Wales back line; he made several crucial tackles, blocks and headers on a regular basis. He played every minute of Wales' campaign, and made his sides most blocks (7) and clearances (43). Williams is the leader of the squad on and off the field, after each and every game the defender would give a team-talk on the pitch for the world to see; his passion was evident. The fact that the Swansea man is so reliable, that allows his team-mates to play with more freedom, with the trust that they have in Williams organising his fellow defenders and dealing with their opponents' attacking players. 

Williams put in three solid performances during the group stage, in which he and his defence gave away very few opportunities to the opposition. The centre-back did, however, make a costly error against England, when he mistimed a header in his own penalty area, resulting in a Jamie Vardy equaliser. Wales went on to lose the match, but bounced back with a resounding victory over Russia, topped off with a clean sheet. Williams was indispensable on their way to the Sem-finals, in particular against a talent-riddled Belgium outfit; the central defender scored a crucial headed goal in the match. It has to be said, Wales would probably not have progressed so far without their inspirational captain.

Leonardo Bonucci

The centre-half was a rock in a very solid Italian defence. He operated in the middle of a defensive back 3 with Juventus team-mates Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli - the trio seem to have an almost telepathic partnership. Bonucci played one of the passes of the tournament, a Pirlo esque ball over the top of the Belgium defence, assisting Manuel Giaccherini's opening goal. Whilst the firm centre-back was on the field, Italy only conceded on one occasion, in the quarter-finals when his side faced Germany. In that game, down one goal to nil, the Italians were awarded a penalty, and despite never taking a competitive penalty in his whole career, Bonucci stepped up and finished with aplomb. Unfortunately, the Italians were knocked out on penalties, but Bonucci's showings definitely warrant a place in the team of the tournament. 

On the back of his teams exit, Chelsea, now managed by former Italy boss, Antonio Conte, have had a bid of £38m rejected for his services.

Jérôme Boateng

Like pretty much all of the German defence, Boateng had an excellent Euros. Cool, calm and collected, the versatile centre-half, went very much under the radar throughout the tournament - that is when you know a central defender has been playing well. Boateng was the only constant in the heart of the defence, as he was the only centre-back to play in every game for his side. The Bayern Munich stalwart is one of the main reasons why Germany didn't concede a goal up until the quarter-finals, even if he was the man to give away the penalty which the goal came from. Disappointingly, Boateng picked up an injury in the semi-final against France - maybe he would have been there to stop that damning second French goal. Boateng was the best defender at Euro 2016.

Gareth Bale

In a tournament where many of the world's best players didn't quite have the impact they had hoped for, Bale was quite the opposite. The electrifying, deft attacker had a superb Euros, he was the driving force of just about every attack, and can certainly be regarded as the talisman of the Welsh squad. Over the last few years the Welsh superstar has carried this team, and some say, he just about single handedly guided them to their first tournament since 1958. Without Bale, it is exceedingly unlikely that Wales would have progressed all the way to the semi-finals.

Bale found the net in each of the three group stage matches, including a dipping 30-yard free-kick against England. Operating just off the centre-forward, the Welshman was fabulous in the final group game against Russia, a victory which sealed his sides first-place finish in Group B. The Real Madrid man wasn't as effective during the knockout rounds, but he did provide a key assist in the last 16 against Northern Ireland that was significant in his team making it through to the next round. Bale can look back on his tournament with plenty of satisfaction.

Renato Sanches

The 18-year-old is the most exciting young Portuguese talent to come out of the country since Cristiano Ronaldo, so no pressure. Sanches wasn't selected in the starting lineup for the first two games of the tournament, but from that moment onwards he was phenomenal. The €35m rated man performed like a player beyond his years, it was exciting to see such talent, and a fearless attitude from the youngster. The box-to-box midfielder added a different dimension to a team which was severely lacking in the centre of the park. Sanches' inspirational performance in the quarter-finals against Poland was certainly his best game of the tournament; he provided a smart left-footed finish from the edge of the area to level up the game, and in addition to that, dispatched a magnificent penalty in the shoot-out. Maybe Portugal wouldn't have gone on to win the Euros without EUFA's Young Player of the Tournament.

Aaron Ramsey

Amongst several top performers in the Welsh side, Ramsey was the pick of the bunch. Throughout the championships the central midfielder was extraordinary, his tenacity was very much something to be admired. Ramsey optimised the attitude of his team, with his passion, spirit and tireless exuberance. The Arsenal man maintained a solid partnership with fellow Premier League midfielder, Joe Allen. The pair worked very well in tandem, with each of them covering their team-mate when need be. Ramsey provided the most assists in the tournament (4), and also added an important goal against Russia. In the quarter-finals the creative, blonde haired midfielder put in a monumental display, in which he laid on two of his teams three goals. Unfortunately, Ramsey received his second yellow card of the Euros in that same match against Belgium, which ultimately meant he would miss the next round of the tournament. If he had been eligible to play in the semi-final match with Portugal, who knows what could have happened.

Dimitri Payet

The magnificent attacking midfielder was unbelievable for the hosts France during the group stage matches. With his team faltering in front of goal, Payet managed to find the net in the opening clash of the tournament against Romania; he also registered an assist in that same game. On the back of that excellent performance, the silky Frenchman capitalised once again in the dying embers of the match, with Albania the unfortunate party to his brilliance that time out. Payet certainly had a huge impact for France at the Euros; he provided a cutting edge in the final-third where, at times, his team-mates were slightly lacklustre. When his side faced Iceland in the quarter-finals, Payet was once again superb; in a game whereby he scored one and assisted another. The West Ham man was the best French midfielder at the tournament - Les Blues may not have progressed all the way to the final without Payet.

Mesut Özil

I must admit, Özil wasn't one of the first names that sprung to mind when picking my best team of the tournament. However, the Germany #10 was key to his nations run to the latter stages of the Euros. Özil was excellent in Germany's Group C matches against Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland; his vision and guile helped create several chances for his team. The craftsman's stats don't give justice to how well he played throughout the tournament, it is the work Özil does to find space and begin attacks for his side where the German really comes to the fore. The playmaker was given a free-role to roam across the pitch, cause damage from deep, and pick pockets in front of the opposing defence. If the German squad had more offensive options, other than Mario Gomez, Özil would no doubt have been pushing for top of the assists table.

Antoine Griezmann

As expected, Griezmann was the biggest threat in front of goal for the French side. After a less than impressive opening day performance, the forward's attitude to being dropped from the starting lineup in the next game was commendable; in which, he came off the bench to score a crucial injury-time goal. Operating as a second-striker just off Olivier Giroud, Griezmann picked up second balls, created chances and was deadly in front of goal.

With his side one nil down in the last 16 against Ireland, the skilful frontman stepped up and scored two goals to grant his team a passage to the next round. He then followed that display up with another influential performance, in which, he found the net yet again and laid on two assists. In France's colossal semi-finals encounter with Germany, Griezmann proved to be the difference, as he scored both goals in his sides 2-0 win. Having six goals to his name heading to the final, expectations were high on Griezmann delivering again, but he was unfortunately unable to do so and France consequently fell at the final hurdle. Griezmann was named the Player of the Tournament and received the Golden Boot award.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portugal captain didn't get off to the best of starts at the Euros, but there was a feeling of inevitability that it was only a matter of time before he started to show what he's all about. Ronaldo cut the shape of a frustrated figure following his sides first two games ending in draws, in which he didn't get on the scoresheet, and had also missed a late penalty against Austria. But from that point onwards his luck started to change, as he registered two goals in a 3-3 draw with Hungary, securing his teams passage into the knockout rounds. He would end the tournament with three goals and three assists to his name.

It's not just his undoubted talent on the field that this team relied upon, if you watched much of Portugal you would see how bigger part Ronaldo plays in motivating his team-mates, and passing out instructions to them. Even after the bitter disappointment of suffering a cruel injury in the final, the forward was still kicking every ball from the sidelines. There is no man in the Portuguese national set up who would want to win the tournament more than Ronaldo, as he adds yet another honour to his glittering career. There is simply no way that this heavily unfavored Portuguese side would have gone on to claim the trophy without his impact on the tournament.