The first Euro tournament I watched was in 1992 while at Gaddafi Police Barracks in Jinja (Uganda) at 8 years of age. As for the 1988 final won by Netherlands, I have only seen highlights: Marco van Basten's goal (challenged by David Trezeguet's Golden Goal for France in 2000) must be the Greatest Ever Euro Goal. His captain - Frank Rijkaard, who scored the first goal in the 2-0 triumph, even confessed that Marco cannot repeat it because it was just one-of-a-kind. I was born a few months before Michel Platini inspired France to the Euro Championship (1984), so I do not remember watching it. But here are my Best 11 European Players who have featured in the continental showpiece. Just like most of my Best FIFA World XI won the World Cup, almost all the players on this list have won the Euro.
1. Peter SCHMEICHEL, Goalkeeper (Denmark): Like I said in the intro, he was the first outstanding Euro Goalkeeper I noticed. Great reflexes and an unflinching attitude made him great. Iker Casillas, Fabian Barthez and Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) are all suitable but there is only one spot...
2. Bixente LIZARAZU, Rightback (France): He was a free-roaming player and since he is rightfooted, I would prefer him on the right instead of as leftback...
3. Cristian CHIVU, Leftback (Romania): The left side of defence is reserved for the energetic and very talented Romanian (from Gheorghe Hagi's era) who could dribble better than most outfield players and had a speculative fastshot. Other than him, maybe I can include Jordi Alba...
4. Patrick VIEIRA, Midfielder (France): Well, he was born in Africa but because of the French Assimilation Policy, he makes it to the team as one of only two Blacks on my European List. With a menacing demeanour, the Senegalese Frenchman was a stalwart in defensive midfield and also had an eye for goal plus a good assist. He is the only Gunner among my First XI, Best Deputy would probably be Cesc Fabregas...
5. Lilian THURAM, Centreback (France): The second Black-skin on my List, actually the Blackest European on my List was rock-solid at centre back. Say No to Racism! I wouldn't even bother to find out where exactly his ancestors originated from...
6. Carlos PUYOL, Centreback (Spain): Another reliable centre-back who was the defensive Cornerstone of Spain's double Euro-winning Generation and 2010 FIFA World Cup Champions...
7. Zinedine ZIDANE, Midfielder (France): Though from Algeria, which some Africans consider already part of Europe, Zizou is the Playmaker of my team in place of Xavi Hernandez (a great passer). The Frenchman seemed to outplay great teams when he wanted. The Euro 2000 Semifinal game against Portugal was just one of the indicators of his ball-controlling prowess.
8. Andres INIESTA, Midfielder (Spain): A sleek, creative dynamo who made FC Barcelona sparkle in the new millenium playing alongside great non-Europeans like Ronaldinho, then Eto'o, Messi, Suarez and Neymar. What better way to pay tribute to Johan Cruyff (inventor of Total Football) plus Pep Guardiola (enforcer of Tikitaka - onetouch Football) than to include one of the Best Symbols of those styles in my Euro XI! It was not a surprise that Spain won the Euro in 2008 and 2012. If he got injured, then I would replace him with the sharp-shooting Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff to have fun with his friend Zidane...
9. Jurgen KLINSMANN, Midfielder (Germany): Germans are normally great footballers, but since they won the Euro only in 1996 during my lifetime (I never witnessed the previous two), I reserve this spot to name a few Germans. Klinsmann was a lively star of the 1996 Champions. Oliver Bierhoff was also a hero. In 2008 when Germany almost won it again, losing only 1-0 to Spain, I think Bastian Schweinsteiger - donning blonde hair played his heart out like a man on fire during the entire tournament.
10. Michael LAUDRUP, Striker (Denmark): 1992 was a great year because I realised that I wanted Football to be my future though Germany lost the Euros and Laudrup didn't play for Denmark who failed to qualify originally but were given war-torn Yugoslavia's place in the Euros which they won. Nevertheless, 'Michelino' had amazingly quick footwork and elegant vision like an angel. Just enjoy! I must confess, Laudrup was a star player I can never forget from Euro '96 and the 1998 World Cup. He actually had a younger brother Brian who won the Euro in 1992. The things he did with his boots, I would be alright if cameras only focussed on closeups of his boots and legs. He never even received a red card in his career. He is Arsenal Midfielder Santi Cazorla's Favourite Player while growing up as a Kid; I guess that corroborates the Spaniard's amazing ambidextrous Footwork. As Laudrup's substitute, I might include Thierry Henry, Andriy Shevchenko, Davor Suker or Sylvain Wiltord but that is just a maybe...
11. David VILLA, Striker (Spain): Why Villa of all Euro strikers? Compared to his taller teammate Fernando Torres, Villa is more excitingly lethal. He reads the game very well and usually scores at the Best Time especially like while playing for FC Barcelona, at least according to me. He was among the Golden Crop that broke the 44 year old Spain Curse in 2008 when he netted 4 Goals as the Tournament's Top Scorer...
My Best Euro Manager would be the ever-cool, humble, patient, quietly modest but very prudent Spanish Legend Vicente DEL BOSQUE (Gonzalez), born on 23rd December 1950. Out of a possible 186 games in four seasons, Real Madrid (the club at which he spent most of his career) won 104 times but he was still fired during the evening of the day after the Meringues (White Angels) won their 29th La Liga title and second with him. He was dispensed because he didn't fit with Real's 'modern' marketing-driven business plan for the future. Having joined Real as a teenager, he was a Madridista to death and served the club for over 30 years (later coaching it between November 1999 to 2003 - the Most Successful Period in the Club's modern era that included the Los Galacticos) but after being fired by someone he described as a "smart-alec dressed in a pair of braces", del Bosque vowed never to work for the club again. He took on the reigns of the national team in 2008 and they won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa plus successfully defended their Euro crown in 2012 (Spain's third like Germany). He is the only Football Manager to have won the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, Euro and World Cup. Talk of Karma...
