Euro 2016 is just around the corner, which means we’ll get to see the best talent in all of Europe face off for the continental prize.
During the Euro 2016 qualifiers over the past 12+ months we’ve seen plenty of new stars rise to fill the shoes of some who have moved on.
Now that the qualifiers are complete, we have a good look at who the stars to keep an eye out for are in next summer’s tournament and – if they can it all the way to the final.
Here is the Euro 2016 Dream XI:
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GK: Joe Hart
Say what you will about England’s opposition in the qualifiers, Hart only allowed goals in two of England’s 10 matches.
LB: Jordi Alba
Alba’s dominance allowed Spain to hold their opponents to just three goals in ten matches.
CB: Gerard Pique
Spain continues to have a presence on the list of top defenders, and Pique absolutely manhandled the opposition.
CB: Vincent Kompany
Belgium rolled through a high-scoring Group B thanks in large part to Kompany’s defensive leadership.
RB: Sergio Ramos
The third and perhaps most important member of an exquisite Spanish defence, Ramos ultimately led Spain to clean sheets in eight out of 10 matches.
MF: Eden Hazard
Whatever issues have plagued him in the Premier League didn’t seem to affect him in the qualifiers, racking up five goals for Belgium and several more assists.
MF: Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne’s ascension from abandoned Chelsea project to the best player on ‘the No. 1 team in the world’ has been remarkable.
MF: Wayne Rooney
In addition to his incredible luck getting and making penalty shots, Rooney still has plenty of power in his shots.
MF: Gareth Bale
Wales made it into the Euro 2016 scoring only 11 goals in total – seven of which came from Bale. Needless to say, if an average team like Wales can get in with him leading the charge, the Dream XI will absolutely dominate.
MF: Thomas Muller
Goals have a tendency to come in bunches for Muller, who record a brace three times during the Euro qualifiers and a hat-trick against Portugal in the World Cup two summers ago. He has 14 goals between the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 in the last 17 months.
FW: Robert Lewandowski
Easily the most lethal European striker today, the Polish forward scored a record-tying 13 goals in the qualifiers alone. Together with Muller, the pair have been unstoppable in Bundesliga and the Champions League.