It’s no surprise to see Gareth Bale and Andres Iniesta lighting up the European Championship. However, some other players who are hardly household names in European soccer have also impressed at this year’s tournament.
Here’s the composite side of Euro 2016’s group stage, chosen by The Associated Press’ team of writers in France.
It’s in a 4-2-3-1 used by the majority of teams this tournament:
GOALKEEPER: Hannes Halldorsson (Iceland)
The part-time movie director is writing another script at Euro 2016, stopping everything against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, and making some significant saves in the 2-1 win over Austria that sealed Iceland’s historic progress to the round of 16.
RIGHT BACK: Elseid Hysaj (Albania)
A full back with pace and a fine cross, Hysaj arguably was Albania’s best player against Switzerland, caused France problems with his probing runs forward, and then helped his team beat Romania 1-0 for its first win at a major tournament. Might be joining a bigger club than Napoli before long.
LEFT BACK: Jonas Hector (Germany)
The full back positions were supposed to be a problem area for Germany heading into the tournament, but Hector — at 26, a late bloomer for the national team — has stood out with his overlapping runs and crosses into the box.
CENTER BACK: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)
Anchored a defense that didn’t concede a goal against Belgium’s Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne, or Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Bonucci also made a telling 40-meter pass for Italy’s first goal in its 2-0 win over Belgium.
CENTER BACK: Jerome Boateng (Germany)
Made a spectacular, and crucial, goal-line clearance against Ukraine for one of the moments of the tournament, and then was man of the match against Poland. A key reason why Germany hasn’t conceded a goal yet.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Eric Dier (England)
Is beginning to look at home in a position he only started playing this season at Tottenham. Blasted in a free kick against Russia and has been a rock in front of England’s potentially fragile defense in all three games.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Could even be getting better with age. The Barcelona playmaker set up Gerard Pique for Spain’s late winner against the Czech Republic and ran the game in a 3-0 victory over Turkey with a series of probing passes.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD: Dimitri Payet (France)
Wasn’t even assured of a place in France’s team at the start of the tournament. Now, the hosts are pinning much of their hopes on Payet, who scored a spectacular left-footed winner in the opening game against Romania and a clincher against Albania.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD: Gareth Bale (Wales)
The world’s most expensive player has scored a goal in all three games — two of them coming from direct free kicks — to lead Wales into the last 16 as a group winner. Has outshone his illustrious Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD: Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
Could be using Euro 2016 as a shop window for a move away from Inter Milan, and is showing what an asset he can be. A versatile, hard-working and skillful winger, Perisic scored the winner against Spain and has been a consistent performer in Croatia’s star-studded midfield.
STRIKER: Alvaro Morata (Spain)
It’s not yet been a great tournament for out-and-out strikers, but Morata has started to find his range with two goals against Turkey and another against Croatia. Looks to be established as Spain’s No. 1 striker, a giddy prospect with all its playmakers feeding him.
COACH: Lars Lagerback/Heimir Hallgrimsson (Iceland)
A dentist (Hallgrimsson) and one of the most journeyed coaches in international soccer (Lagerback) have combined to mastermind the feel-good story of Euro 2016. Iceland’s tactics — defend in numbers, strike on the counter-attack — have worked so far.
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