UEFA announce official European Qualifiers All-Star XI
UEFA has announced its European Qualifiers All-Star XI, with Premier League players dominating the list of selected names. The German Bundesliga is represented thrice by the Bayern Munich trio of Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Thomas Muller (Germany) and David Alaba (Austria). La Liga has two representatives in the starting XI namely Real Madrid talisman Gareth Bale (Wales) and Rayo Vallecano left-back Razvan Rat (Romania).
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Manchester United right-back Matteo Darmian (Italy), Swansea defender Ashley Williams (Wales), Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill (England), Southampton midfielder Steven Davis (Northern Ireland) and Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) make up the list of Premier League representatives.
Belgium keeper Courtois lines up in between the sticks having kept 5 clean sheets in 8 Euro 2016 qualifying games. Italian Matteo Darmian features at right back for his stellar performances in all 10 of Italy’s qualifying games which saw them come away with 3 clean sheets. Wales defender Ashley Williams (7 clean sheets in 10 games) and English Centre back Gary Cahill( 6 clean sheets in 8 games) are paired at the heart of defence alongside Romanian Razvan Rat ( 7 clean sheets in 9 games) on the left side of defence.
The midfield trio is made up of Austrian David Alaba(4 goals and 3 assists in 8 Euro qualifiers), Northern Ireland and Southampton midfielder Steven Davis (2 goals in 9 games) and Icelander Gylfi Sigurdsson (6 goals and 3 assists in 10 Euro qualifiers) .
Wales and Real Madrid mid fielder Gareth Bale features on the left wing having played in all 10 of his side’s qualifiers scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists in the process. Bale’s goal tally helped Chris Coleman's side reach their first major tournament in 58 years.
Poland striker Lewandowski leads the strike-force after scoring 13 times as the Poles secured qualification behind Group D winners Germany. The Bayern Munich striker has the highest number of goals in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and also boasts four assists to his name.
Last but not the least, Germany and Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller features on the right wing boasting 2 assists and a goal a game ratio in his 9 games at the qualifiers.
Ciprian Tatarusanu (Romania), Jordi Alba (Spain), Kamil Gilk (Poland), Marek Hamsik (Slovakia), Ivan Perisic (Croatia), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Artom Dzyuba (Russia) make up the list of the All-Star Substitutes.
The team has an inordinate number of players from lower-ranked nations because of the immense influence they’ve had on proceedings. While some made qualification difficult for the big guns, others obliterated opposition to qualify for the main event in France next year.