Friday, July 26, 2024

What if Haaland and Musiala played for England in Euro 2024

This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  I also updated mine periodically.  I made mistakes. He is from Russia.  He should know the topic much more than I do, but he still kept my mistakes. He will copy this Belarus All-Time Team.  Please look at my other teams from the former Soviet Union.  He copied all of them.

His Facebook and Instagram

European Champion Final against Spain
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.  


In Euro 2024, England managed to reach the final, yet they fell short of securing their first international major trophy since 1966, losing to Spain in the final. This defeat added to a long list of disappointments and heartbreaks in England's football history, further prolonging their agony and their quest for a significant title.

Throughout the tournament, despite fielding a talented squad, England's performance in reaching the final was characterized by uninspired play. Despite the presence of standout players such as Jude Bellingham, who was named La Liga Player of the Year, Phil Foden, who earned both the FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season accolades, and Harry Kane, the Bundesliga Golden Boot winner, the team failed to consistently showcase their true potential on the pitch. 

However, there were active players who had the eligibility to represent the English national team but opted to play for other nations. This choice resulted in England being deprived of their services, even though their inclusion could have further strengthened the team. Erling Haaland who is considered to be the best players in the world was born in Leeds. Jamal Musiala played for England Under 21 team even after he relocated to Germany.  These players could have chosen to play for England leaves a lingering sense of what could have transpired England in the tournament.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane
For this team, I was not looking for English players to challenge Southgate's selection.  Instead, it aimed to showcase players who had the potential to represent England but opted to play for other national teams. By assembling this team, the intention was to emphasize the missed opportunities and the talent that could have bolstered England's squad, potentially resulting in a triumphant campaign in the 2024 European Championship.  It acknowledges that the scenarios presented are highly unlikely but aims to create an enjoyable and engaging experience or fantasy for soccer fans worldwide. 


Players Added
Erling Haaland, Jamal Musiala, Scott McTominay, Antonee Robinson. 

Players Dropped 
Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Ivan Toney and Joe Gomez.

Prediction
Despite displaying uninspired play throughout the tournament, England managed to maintain an undefeated record in the actual tournament, progressing all the way to the Final. Their path to the ultimate showdown was notable for avoiding pre-tournament favorites France and Germany in the knockout stages, as these teams were situated in the opposite side of the bracket. Meanwhile, Spain emerged as a strong contender and arguably the best team in the tournament, also competing in the other bracket. This imaginary team could easily reach the Final and meet Spain.

In the summer of 2024, the best European players in the world were Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.  In the actual tournament, Jamal Musiala shone brightly until Germany's elimination by Spain in the quarterfinals.  In this alternative universe, they would be all playing for England. On paper, the new look England appeared to possess a stronger lineup than Spain. Meanwhile, Spain, despite being a renowned footballing nation, did not have an abundance of household names in their squad. Players like Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Unai Simon were not playing for the more prominent European clubs. Similarly, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, Fabián Ruiz from PSG, and Rodric from Manchester City were not widely recognized names in the footballing world, even though they hailed from esteemed clubs.  Aymeric Laporte was playing in Saudi Arabia at the time of the European Championship.

In the genuine Final (real world), England also featured well-known players who had established their fame in the football world. However, it was Spain who stole the show, displaying their prowess and outplaying England with a lineup that comprised relatively unknown players to those outside of Spain. Eighteen members of their team played domestic club football at home in Spain, but the best player on the Spanish league namely Jude Bellingham played on the English national team. Many players played for Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in Basque.  The region has a strong football tradition so I create a Basque National Team in Euro 2024.  Nonetheless, Spain did not feature the same talents as their glorious era between 2008 and 2012.  This outcome served as a powerful reminder that football is not solely determined by individual star power but rather by the collective abilities, teamwork, and chemistry of a squad. Spain's victory against a team boasting more famous players underscored the unpredictable nature of the sport and the depth of talent that exists beyond the spotlight.  Furthermore, the new players did not solve England's problem in the midfield. I basically upgraded Harry Kane with Erling Haaland.  I do believe that this reinforced England team could beat Spain, but it is not a bygone conclusion. 

Teams (*** non-English international player)
GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Pickford has previously played for Sunderland's academy, reserve, and senior teams in addition to loan spells at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End. He signed for Everton for a fee of £25 million in June 2017. Pickford received his first call-up from the full England national team for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in October 2016, making his debut in November 2017 in a friendly against Germany. He helped England to the Final of both Euro 2020 and 2024.
Jordan Pickford
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Ramsdale began his senior club career playing for Sheffield United and signed for AFC Bournemouth in 2017. He alsp played for Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon and Sheffield United. In 2021, Ramsdale signed for Arsenal in a club record transfer.  He has represented England at all levels from under-18 to the senior team, and won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2017. He was in the squad that finished as runners-up at both Euro 2020 and 2024, and the squad at the 2022 World Cup.

GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Henderson  made his first-team debut for Manchester United against Luton Town in the EFL Cup in September 2020.  In 2023, he joined Crystal Palace after a series of loan spells in many clubs. Henderson has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-20, under-21 and senior levels. He was a member of the England under-20 squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the senior team that were runners-up at UEFA Euro 2020.

RB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Walker started with Sheffield United F.C. In 2009, he joined Tottenham Hotspurs. He spent some time on loan before returning to Tottenham Hotspurs.  He established himself as one of England's best fullback. In 2017, he joined Manchester City winning the treble.. Since 2011, he has played for England. He represented England at the Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024 as well as the World Cup Finals in 2018 and 2022.

RB: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
Trippier was a youth product at Manchester City, but only spent his time on loan before joining Burnley. He spent three seasons with Burnley before joining Tottenham Hotspurs in 2015.  From 2019 to 2020, he played for Atletico Madrid.  In 2022, he joined Newcastle United.  In 2018, he received his fist callup for England after replacing the injured Walker at the club level. He went to 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals as well as Euro 2020 and 2024.

RB/DM: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Alexander-Arnold made his senior debut in 2016, at age 18, and played in back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter, and being named in the Champions League Squad of the Season.  He has thrice been named in the PFA Team of the Year, and helped end Liverpool's 30-year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League. Since 2018, he has played for England. He went to 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals as well as Euro 2024.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 
CB/RB: Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
Konsa began with Charlton Athletic in 2016. He spent a year with  Championship club Brentford before joining Aston Villa in 2019. Konsa received his first call-up for the England senior team in November 2023 ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia.  He played in the Finals of Euro 2024 and was a starter in the match against Switzerland.

CB: Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
Guéhi came through the youth system at Chelsea and made his senior debut in 2019.  He joined Crystal Palace in 2021, becoming the club's third most expensive signing. Guéhi was a key part of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad. He made his debut for the senior team in 2022, and was a starting member of the squad that were runners-up at Euro 2024.

CB: Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Dunk made his debut for Brighton in 2010, and was part of the team that won the League One title in the 2010–11 season. Dunk is uncapped at youth international level, despite being called up to the England under-21 squad in 2011. He made his senior England debut in 2018.  He went to euro 2024 for England. At the time of writing, he had 6 caps.

CB: John Stones (Manchester City)
Stones began his career with Barnsley, making his first-team debut in the Championship in 2012 as a 17-year-old. He joined Premier Everton  in January 2013.  He spent over four seasons at the Merseyside club.  In 2016, he signed for Manchester City.  He was a part of a historic continental treble in the 2022–23 season. With England, he made his debut in 2014.  He went to Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024, and the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022.
John Stones
LB: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Shaw made his first-team debut for Southampton in 2011. In 2014, Shaw was signed by Manchester United for £30 million, then a world record transfer fee for a teenager. Shaw made his senior international debut for England in 2014. He went to the 2014 World Cup, but did not particpate in a big tournament until Euro 2020. He scored his first international goal in the Euro 2020 final, which was also the fastest scored in a UEFA European Championship final.

LB: Antonee Robinson (Fulham/USA) ***
Previously a youth player with Everton, Robinson went on loan spells to several EFL Championship clubs until signing with Premier League club Fulham in 2020. He won the 2023–24 Fulham Player of the Season award, and was considered one of the best left-backs of the season.  In 2014, he decided to play for the United States internationally.  He started as a youth international and earned his first senior cap in 2018. He went to the 2022 World Cup Finals.

DM/CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice began his career at West Ham United.  Rice was signed by Arsenal in 2023 for a club record fee of £100 million, making him the joint-most expensive English player in history. Eligible to play for England or Ireland, Rice represented Ireland internationally at both youth and senior levels prior to 2019. He subsequently changed his national allegiance and made himself available for selection by England. Rice made his England debut in 2019 and has represented the country at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.
 Declan Rice 
DM/CM: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Mainoo is a graduate of Manchester United's youth system and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2023. He made his first-team debut in an EFL Cup match in January 2023. Mainoo played for England from under-17 youth level, before making his debut for the senior team in March 2024.

DM/CM/BTB: Scott McTominay (Manchester United/Scotland) ***
McTominay is a graduate of Manchester United's youth academy and made his senior debut for the club in May 2017. He has gone on to make more than 200 appearances for the club, winning the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Born in England, McTominay qualifies to play for Scotland through his father hailing from Helensburgh. He made his senior international debut in March 2018, and represented the side at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

CM: Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)
Beginning his career with Chelsea, Gallagher spent time on loan at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, between 2019 and 2022. At Crystal Palace, Gallagher was named the club's Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season. He subsequently made his first-team debut at Chelsea during the 2022–23 season. Gallagher made his debut for the national team in 2021. He went to  the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship.

CM: Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Wharton started his football career in the academy at Blackburn Rovers. He made his debut for Blackburn in the EFL Championship in 2022. He signed for Crystal Palace in February 2024. He was praised for his performances for an in-form Palace team, earning him selection for the England squad in UEFA Euro 2024.

CM/AM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham started with Birmingham City before he moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 making him the most expensive 17 years old in history.  In 2023, he won the Bundesliga Player of the Year.  That summer, he moved to Real Madrid where he had a starring role. At 17 years, 136 days, he became England's third-youngest full international when he played against Republic of Ireland in 2020.  He played in the 2022 World Cup Finals.
Jude Bellingham
RW/AM: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Palmer made his senior debut for Manchester City in 2020, and was later part of their squad that won a continental treble in 2023. He signed for Chelsea in 2023,  That season, he scored 22 goals and assisted 17,[4] earning him the club's Player of the Season as well as Premier League Young Player of the Season.  In 2023, he earned his first cap for England. He represented them at the 2024 European Championship.

RW/LW/LWB: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Saka has spent his entire first-team club career with Arsenal, where he has won an FA Cup and two FA Community Shields, progressively becoming one of Arsenal's most influential players. Following both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, he was named as Arsenal's Player of the Season.  He was part of England's squads for UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024, which England finished as runners-up in both, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Bukayo Saka 
LW: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Between 2017 and 2123, Gordon played for Everton.  In 2023, he moved to Newcastle United.  He helped England to win the 2023 European Under-21 Championship. He was named Player of the Tournament and also chosen in the Team of the Tournament.  In 2024, he earned his first senior cap.  He was a member of England's Euro 2024 team, but he was unused in the Finals.

RW/LW/AM: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Foden was a key player for Manchester City that won a continental treble in the 2022-23 season. He became the youngest-ever goalscorer for his club in the Champions League in 2019. He was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season and the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 respectively. In 2024, Foden was honored as the Premier League Player of the Season. Foden was part of the England squads for Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.

RW/LW/AM: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Born in Germany, he was raised from the age of seven in England. Musiala has played for both Germany and England at youth level, and eventually pledged his allegiance to the Germany in 2021. He has represented the side at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and  Euro 2024. He was also one of the six players to win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.  Since 2021, he played for Bayern Munich. He is considered one of the best young players in the world.
Jamal Musiala 
ST/FW: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Watkins played for Exeter City before departing in 2017 for Brentford. He had a successful three-year spell at the club.  In 2020, he signed for his present club, Aston Villa. In the summer of 2024, he was awarded the honour of the Premier League Playmaker of the Season.  In 2021, he earned his first cap.  In 2024, he scored the winning goal against Netherlands at the semi-final of Euro 2024 in Germany.  

ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland started his career at his hometown club Bryne in 2016, and moved to Molde the following year. He then joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2019. At Salzburg, he won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup.  In 2019, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he is considered one of the best players in the world.  He joined Manchester City in 2022.  Since 2019, he has played for the senior national team.  His father also played for Norway.
Erling Haaland 
ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
At the time of writing, Kane has played his entire career with Tottenham Hotspurs, except a few seasons on loan.  Kane made his first-team debut for Tottenham on 25 August 2011.  He finished top scorer of both the 2015–16 and the 2016–17 Premier League seasons, and aided Tottenham in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League on both occasions.  In 2024, he joined Bayern Munich before breaking the Premiership All-Time scoring record.  For England, he has earned over 98 caps since 2015

Squad Explanation
-- For this team, I was not looking for English players to challenge Gareth Southgate's selection.  Instead, it aimed to showcase players who had the potential to represent England but opted to play for other national teams. By assembling this team, the intention was to emphasize the missed opportunities and the talent that could have bolstered England's squad, potentially resulting in a triumphant campaign in the 2024 European Championship. I did not study Emglish players rejected by Southgate/
-- Gareth Southgate is not the manager of this team.  I am the manager of this team, but I used his squad as the basis of this team.
-- This team consisted La Liga Player of the Year Jude Bellingham, and FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden.  Additionally, the team boasted the presence of Harry Kane, the Golden Boot winner in the Bundesliga, and Erling Haaland, who achieved the same feat in the Premier League.
Harry Kane
-- Jamal Musiala would be reunited with his Bayern Munich teammate Harry Kane.  Erling Haaland is playing with Phil Foden in Manchester City, and he was a teammate of Jude Bellingham in Borussia Dortmund.
-- Four players each came from Crystal Palace and Manchester City, three from Manchester United and Arsenal, and two each from Bayern Munich,  Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
-- I also created a Basque national team in Euro 2024.
Goalkeepers
-- Kasper Schmeichel's extended childhood residence in England would have fulfilled the five-year residential requirement for British citizenship.  However, both he and his father dismissed the possibility of him representing England early on his career. 
-- Joe Hart's last game for England was in November 2017, coinciding with Schmeichel's rise and making him a potential replacement for Hart.  Other goalkeepers who played for England in 2017 and 2018 included Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, John Ruddy, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton, and Nick Pope. None of them could match Schmeichel's abilities, in which he could have a long career as England starting goalkeeper.  However, by the time of Euro 2024 , Schmeichel, at 37 years old, was playing for Anderlecht in Belgium, while Pickford should be the clear choice as England's number one goalkeeper. So I decided to retain the existing 3 goalkeepers, as Schmeichel's opportunities had passed, and it would be a fresh start to explore new possibilities. 
Defenders
-- Harry Maguire, who had been a crucial player for Gareth Southgate, was unable to make the team due to an injury, leaving England with a significant void in the central defender position.  However, despite his absence, the players who filled the position for England in Germany proved to be capable.  Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah were interesting prospects, but I decided not to change the team.
-- Southgate faced a bigger challenge with the left-back position during the tournament. Luke Shaw had been sidelined due to injury for the past 4 months. Ben Chilwell's previous season was also marred by injuries, which limited his availability. Southgate did not consider Levi Colwill or Tyrick Mitchell.  In Germany, he had central defender Joe Gomez who had played as a left-back during his time at Liverpool at his disposal, but Southgate used rightback Kieran Trippier out of position in the left-back role for the initial 6 games of the tournament. 
Luke Shaw
-- England's left-sided attack was consistently underwhelming throughout the tournament. Phil Foden failed to make an impact and seemed almost non-existent. Even when Bukayo Saka was deployed as a left wingback against Switzerland, the attacking prowess did not improve. The blame was placed on Trappier's lack of familiarity with playing out of position, as he struggled to offer adequate support on the left side.  In the Final against Spain, Southgate took a significant gamble by starting Luke Shaw. This decision indicated Southgate's lack of trust in Trippier's abilities as a left-back. It was a bold move to rely on Shaw, considering his recent injury and lack of match fitness. In the match, Shaw had a decent performance overall. Although he was partially responsible for losing his position and allowing Lamine Yamal to cross the ball freely, it was Kyle Walker who left Nico Williams unmarked on the other side, resulting in the first goal for Spain.  The second goal was about a breakdown on the right side.
-- Antonee Robinson could have been the solution to England's problem on the leftback position. He was born and raised in England, but he chose to represent the USA.  Widely recognized as one of the Premier League's finest left-backs, he recorded an impressive 81 interceptions, the highest in the Premier League in the 2023-2024 season, in which he won the Fulham Player of the Season award.  If he os good enough in the Premiership, he is good enough in the Euro 2024. At the time of the Euro 2024, he was representing the United States in the Copa America. In this alternative universe, England was able to bring him back.  I do think that he would be selected by Southgate if he was eligible.
Antonee Robinson 
-- During the Euro 2024 Finals, England had two unused defenders on their roster, namely Lewis Dunk and Joe Gomez. In Liverpool, Gomez had served as a backup for several years, but due to injuries within his club team during this season, he gained significant playing time. His improved performances earned him a recall to the national team in 2024.  Lewis Dunk on the other hand had been with the national team in 2023 during qualifiers.  So I dropped Gomez to make way for Robinson.
Midfielders
-- Declan Rice is highly regarded as a top defensive midfielder when it comes to halting counter attacks and winning possession.  His nickname is "Yorkshire Pirlo", but his passing skills are limited.  In fact, he needed a deep lying playmaker or another "Pirlo" who could complement his game.  Southgate first turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold.  In Liverpool, despite usually being positioned as a right-back, he often drifted into midfield and excel as a deep-lying playmaker. This prompted many to consider him to start in the midfield for England in the Euro 2024 Finals. However, his campaign in Germany ultimately proved to be disastrous. He would be replaced by Conor Gallagher who also failed to ignite England's midfield.  Gallagher was subsequently replaced by Kobbie Mainoo who went on to start all of England's knockout stage matches. Mainoo demonstrated significant improvement overall, but at the age of 19, he was not yet equipped to lead the English midfield.  
-- In the absence of a midfielder capable of setting the game's tempo, Jude Bellingham found himself dropping deeper to retrieve the ball. This deeper role contrasted with his position in Madrid, where he operated between the number 10 and false 9 positions. With Bellingham playing deeper, England looked disconnected in the attack.  Furthermore, Foden had to retreat to the midfield as there was no natural left-back behind him. This led to Kane and Saka becoming isolated. So, England also needed a runner or shuttler who could penetrate and a deep lying midfielder who moved the ball around.
-- James Maddison probably would not have helped much.  He played a more advanced role.  Anyway, at the end of the season, he was not playing well.  
-- The Lancaster-born Scott McTominay who played for Scotland in Euro 2024 could be a great addition to the Three Lions.  Although he may not be considered a playmaker, his true strength lies in his role as a shuttler. He excels in defensive phases, holding his ground against opponents effectively, and displays remarkable versatility by seamlessly transitioning from box to box.  The description provided aligns with the qualities exhibited by Kalvin Phillips in his prime. In Euro 2021, Rice often stayed back as pivot while Philips made his surging runs. Unfortunately, Philips had not been the same since 2021.  If England cannot find a deep lying playmaker, it must include a shuttler who can bring the ball upfield through running.  McTominay also showcased his offensive prowess during the qualifiers. Leading his qualifying group with 7 goals, he outperformed notable attackers like Erling Haaland, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Álvaro Morata.  His goal tally ranked 6th overall in all groups, just one goal behind Harry Kane and two goals behind Kylian Mbappé. Remarkably, all of his goals were scored from open play, without relying on penalties.
Scott McTominay
-- Conor Gallagher can be that runner on the team, but he does not have the same defensive skills as McTominay.  Kobbie Mainoo not only possesses most of the qualities that McTominay brings to England's team, but he might even surpass him in certain areas. Notably, Mainoo excels in the crucial aspect of making intelligent passes, an area where McTominay tends to struggle. So, England did not need McTominay, but I would still gamble with him.
-- Adam Wharton's sideways passes from deep positions address a significant deficiency England faced in Germany. Interestingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite demonstrating this aspect of his game consistently throughout the season with Liverpool, somehow failed to fulfill this role. However, Wharton did not make his debut in the Premiership until February 24.  He was untested at a higher level, but I would still take him because the lack of a deep lying playmaker on the team.  So instead of cutting a midfielder, I decided to release a forward.  The original midfield corps stay intact.
Forwards
-- The forward trio of Phil Foden, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka did not yield the expected results for England, despite not being a new combination. 
-- Harry Kane won the Golden Boot in the Bundesliga.  His ability as a goal scorer was never in doubt. Interestingly, many analysts highlight that Foden's most successful position throughout his Manchester City career has been on the left and center. Due to Bellingham's presence, Foden couldn't be utilized in the center, but the left side still proved effective for him. I already addressed the issue of the leftback position, but it remains a mystery as to why Foden's performance in Germany was lackluster. During England's time in Germany, there was widespread anticipation among English fans for Bukayo Saka to be deployed on the left side. Southgate eventually assigned him to that side in the match against Switzerland. But Saka's performance in that role was not particularly impactful. As a result, Southgate faced significant criticism for his decision, despite the fact that many people had initially called for Saka's inclusion on the left side. Interestingly, Saka began his career on the left before transitioning to the right.  In my opinion, Saka's best position is on the right wing. So, I had no issue of the positioning of the front three.
Phil Foden
-- So, I could not really offer any solution to England's uninspired attack.  I can only add two talented young players to upgrade the overall standard of the team.
--  Erling Haaland was born in Leeds when his father, Alfie, was playing for Leeds United at the time.  His birth right would have given him an UK citizenship.  However, his roots and allegiance firmly lie with Norway, but I would still cut a forward for Haaland. 
-- Ollie Watkins had a remarkable season with Aston Villa in the Premier League.  He won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for providing the most assists. He also finished as the 5th top scorer in the league. He also made the Premier League Fan Team of the Season.  He and Cole Palmer were safe from being cut.  Palmer was one of the bright stars in the English league the season before.  Meanwhile, Ivan Toney was banned from football until January 2024.  He only scored 4 goals in the Premiership after his return from suspension.  Of all players on the team, he had the quietest season. Haaland could be seen as a direct replacement for him.
-- Born in Germany, Jamal Musiala grew up in England alongside Jude Bellingham. He continued to play for England Under 21 team even after his family moved back to Germany.  As a result, the possibility of him donning the England jersey at senior level was more realistic, but unfortunately, he opted for Germany in the senior level.
-- Musiala's ability to play as an attacking midfielder or a wide attacker, particularly on the left side turned both Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze into expendable. Gordon was named the European Under-21 Championship Player of the Tournament in 2023.  He also has been an exciting young player in the 2023-2024 season. I had to take him for future development.  On the right, Jarrod Bowen has been great in West Ham, but Cole Palmer was one of the hottest breakthrough players this season. So, I cut both Bowen and Eze.  Foden, Musiala and Saka could cover both sides of the wide positions.  And then, I have Gordon and Palmer covering the right side, making it five players for two positions.

Formation I
4-4-2
This formation will field the best players altogether in the starting lineup.  The idea of Haaland and Harry Kane forming a formidable strike partnership is a tantalizing prospect that should fuels the dreams of every English fans.  However, I am not a big fan of double-striker setup.  I also prefer Bellingham to play in a more advanced role with two midfielders behind him.  I used Alexander-Arnold because he could step in the midfield to play make liked he does in Liverpool.



Formation II
4-3-3
The 4-3-3 formation might be better.  In the first match against Serbia, I would not have known that Alexander-Arnold was not the right player in the midfield until after the match.  Mainoo would replace him in the second or third matches.  Scott McTominay might also serve as a runner on the team if Mainoo does not work out. I put Foden on the right because Musiala is better on the left.  I also would not have known that Foden was out of shape.



Formation III
4-3-3
This lineup marks a significant revolution. Rice showcased his prowess as one of England's finest players in Germany.  Dropping Rice will be controversial, but McTominay and Mainoo bring added dimensions to the game. Mainoo could excel as the deep-lying playmaker, complemented by McTominay's role as the shuttle or runner.  Bellingham would be less isolated with McTominay than Rice. Together, they would give the midfield a better balance. With Foden experiencing a dip in form during the tournament, Saka is likely to step in at some point to fill his shoes.





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Saturday, July 20, 2024

What if Basque national team played in Euro 2024



Unai Simon, Nico Williams, Daniel Vivian 
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.  


Spain clinched the 2024 European Championship with an impressive contingent of 8 Basque players. During the final against England, 3 Basque players secured spots in the starting lineup, while another 3 made a remarkable impact coming off the bench. Both goal scorers came from Basque. This triumph draws parallels to Spain's previous success in the 2010 World Cup, where 7 Catalonia players played a crucial role, sparking speculation that Catalonia alone could have emerged victorious.

Considering these achievements, one can't help but wonder about the possibilities if Basque had the opportunity to send their own national team to the European Championship.

Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal

Eligibility issue
Athletic Bilbao, although not the official national team of the Basque Country, is widely regarded as a de facto representative of Basque football and culture. The club's distinctive policy of primarily selecting Basque players and its deep-rooted connection to Basque identity position it as a symbol of Basque sporting prowess.  I will utilize their eligibility criteria for this hypothetical national team. According to their policy, the club only signs players who fit one of the following criteria:

A) Born in the Basque Country: Players who were born in the greater Basque Country, which includes Biscay, Gipuzkoa, Álava and Navarre in Spain, as well as Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre (in France are eligible to play for this national team.

B) Formed in the Basque Country: Players who have been trained in the youth academies of clubs located in the Basque Country can also join this team.

C) Basque heritage: Players with Basque ancestry, even if they were not born or trained in the Basque Country, may be considered for signing by this team.

Prediction
Despite the notable presence of six players from this Basque team in the actual Final against England, it is worth mentioning that this team would be lacking several vital players who helped Spain to win the European Championship.  Nico Williams was the only player on this team who was named on the Team of Tournament although Unai Simon deserved a spot too.  Basque could not be the same as Spain as they missed Lamine Yamal, Rodric, Marc Cucurella and Dani Olmo.

Nonetheless, Basque should be strong to secure qualification in the first place during the Group stage. Croatia, Albania, and Italy all had underwhelming performances in the tournament. If Basque progresses to the round of 16, they would face Georgia, who earned their spot in the Euro 2024 Finals by triumphing in the playoff series. Georgia's path to the playoffs was through their victory as the group winners in League C of the Nation League in 2023. I considered this route as an easier path to reach the Finals. They finished fourth in their group behind Spain, Scotland, and Norway in the actual Euro 2024 qualifiers. Despite being perceived as weaker opponents, Georgia showcased their mettle in the Finals, led by the impressive performance of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Nevertheless, Basque should have the ability to overcome them and advance further.  

In the quarterfinal, Basque would have difficulty against the host Germany.  The outcome of the actual match between Spain and Germany in the Finals was ultimately determined by a lapse of concentration from Germany in the closing moments of extra time, allowing Spain to secure the victory. The match was a closely contested affair, and it could have easily swung in either team's favor.  It was entirely possible that Basque could not go past Germany.

Teams
GK: Unai Simón (Athlethic Bilbao)
Unai Simón made his senior international debut for Spain in 2020, playing at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup,  2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024, winning the latter two tournaments.  He joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011.  He made his senior debut in 2018.  He helped them to win the Copa del Rey: 2023–24, and Supercopa de España in 2021.  Individually, he was named La Liga Team of the Season: 2023–24, and  won La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2023–24.
Unai Simón 
GK: Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
Formed at Athletic Bilbao, he played as a senior with Basconia, Bilbao Athletic, Levante, Huesca and Real Sociedad. He won the 2020 Copa del Rey with the last club, totalling more than 200 appearances since 2019. He helped them to win the Copa Del Rey in 2020.  Remiro made his full debut with Spain in 2024 playing against Colombia.  He was also a part of the squad that won Euro 2024 as a backup to Unai Simon.

GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Real Madrid)
Kepa started his careeer with Athletic Bilbao, but he played his first professional games on loan at Ponferradina and Real Valladolid, in Segunda División. Since 2016, he has been the starting keeper for Athletic Bilbao. In 2018, he joined Chelsea as the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.  In 2023, he was sent on loan to Real Maderid. Since 2017, Arrizabalaga represented Spain up to full level, winning the 2012 European Championship with the under-19 team.

RB: Óscar de Marcos (Athletic Bilbao)
Oscar de Marcos began his career at Alavés in 2008, but went on to spend most of it at Athletic Bilbao, making over 500 official appearances since 2009 and winning the 2023–24 Copa del Rey as well as two Supercopa de España titles with the club.  He was called by Spain in 2015 for two games, but never entered the field.   He has played for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.

CB: Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica/Argentina)
Nicolas Otamendi played mainly for Vélez Sarsfield and Porto in his early career, winning eight major titles with the latter including three national championships and the 2011 Europa League. In 2015, he signed for Manchester City from Valencia.  He also captained Benfica He was a member of World Cup squad in 2010, but missed out in 2014. He won the 2021 Copa América, and would then lift the 2022 World Cup the following year, playing every single minute of Argentina's campaign. In 2024, Otamendi won a second consecutive Copa América title.

CB: Aymeric Laporte  (Al Nassr)
Aymeric Laporte joined Athletic Bilbao in 2010 at the age of 16, he became only the second player born in France—after Bixente Lizarazu—to play for them, In January 2018, he signed for Manchester City. He was part of the side which won the only domestic treble in English men's football in 2019.  He moved to Al Nassr in 2023.  He represented France at the youth level, but switched to play Spain in the senior level in 2021.  He played every games in Euro 2024 as Spain won their 4th title.
Aymeric Laporte 
CB: Daniel Vivian (Athletic Bilbao)
In 2016, he moved to Athletic Bilbao, being initially a member of CD Basconia, the club's farm team in Tercera División.  He was loaned to Segunda División side CD Mirandés for the 2020–21. In 2021, he made his La Liga debut with Athletic.  In the 2023–24 season, he and Aitor Paredes formed an effective defensive partnership as the team challenged at the top end of the table.  In 2024, he made his international debut for Spain.  He played twice in the Euro 2024.

CB: Aitor Paredes  (Athletic Bilbao)
Aitor Paredes joined Athletic Bilbao in 2018.  He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 29 August 2022.  In the 2023–24 season,  he formed a great young defensive partnership with Daniel Vivian he as they won the Copa Del Rey.  He featured in the under-18, under-19, and under-21 categories of the Spanish national team. On In 2023, he was a part of Spain Under-23 team that came second the Under-21 European Championship.  

LB/CB: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino)
Rodríguez began his career at FC Zürich in 2010. He was sold to VfL Wolfsburg in 2012 for £7.5 million. He played 184 games across all competitions for Wolfsburg, scoring 22 goals and winning the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup in 2015. In 2017, he signed for Milan.  Since 2011, he has earned over eighty caps for the country. He went to the World Cup in 2014 and 2018, and the European Championship in 2016 and 2020. In 2014, he was voted Swiss Footballer of the Year.

RB/LB: César Azpilicueta (Atletico Madrid)
Azpilicueta spent 3 seasons in Osasuna before switching to Marseille. In 2012 he moved to Chelsea. He was sixth on their list of all-time appearances when he departed in 2023., with no other non-English person having played more times for them. He captained Chelsea to win the Europa League in 2019, the Champions League in 2021, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021. He joined Atletico Madrid in 2023.  For Spain, he played 43 times.  He went to 2019 World Cup and Euro 2022.

DM/CM: Mikel Merino  (Real Sociedad)
After starting out at Osasuna, he had short spells with Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United before signing for Real Sociedad in 2018. With the last of those clubs, he won the 2019–20 Copa del Rey. Merino represented Spain in two European Under-21 Championships, winning the 2019 edition. He made his senior debut in 2020, being selected for Euro 2024 and winning the tournament. He became one of 12 players who won both youth and senior Euro titles. He scored the winning goal against Germany.
Mikel Merino
DM/CM: Benat Turrientes (Real Sociedad)
Born in Beasáin , Guipúzcoa , he joined Real Sociedad when he was just 12 years old.  Benat Turrientes made his professional debut on 21 August 2021, starting in a 0–0 away draw against CD Lugo.  He helped his club for a promotion to the Second Division after beating Algeciras CF in the final round. He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 26 September, starting in a 1–0 home win over Elche CF.  He represented Spain at the youth levels.  

DM/RB: Beñat Prados (Athletic Bilbao)
Prados joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in July 2015, from UDC Txantrea. He made his senior debut with the farm team during the 2018–19 season, in Tercera División.  In 2023, he made his La Liga debut for Athletic in his hometown of Pamplona at El Sadar against Osasuna.  He was also an under-18, under-19 and under-20 international for Spain.

DM/CM: Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Zubimendi joined Real Sociedad's youth setup in 2011, aged 12. He had also played for Antiguoko in the Donosti Cup between 2006 and 2013. He made his senior debut with Real Sociedad in 2019.  For Spain, Zubimendi made his senior debut in 2021 while the Under-21 acted as the senior national team against Lithuania. On 7 June 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024.
Martín Zubimendi
AM: Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamingo/Uruguay)
De Arrascaeta debuted for Defensor Sporting in the Uruguay in October 2012.  He later played for Cruzeiro in Brazil. He joined Flamingo in 2019. He won several awards, including the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year in 2018, 2019, and 2022. He also received the Bola de Prata award in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2021, he was the top assist provider in the Copa Libertadores and was part of the tournament's Team of the Tournament in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, he was selected for the South American Team of the Year in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

AM: Oihan Sancet  (Athletic Bilbao)
Sancet He made his professional and La Liga debut on 16 August 2019 with Athletic Bilbao.   In the 2024 Copa del Rey final against Mallorca, Sancet scored Athletic's equalising goal at the start of the second half. His side went on to win the trophy via a penalty shootout.In October 2023, Sancet received his first call-up to the senior team for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers with Scotland and Norway. He scored against Scotland.

AM: Ivan Martin (Girona)
Martin started with Villarreal in 2019.  He moved to La Liga side Deportivo Alavés in 2021, but he could not find much successes in the two clubs.  He then joined Girona in 2021.  In July 2022, after helping the Catalans to achieve promotion to the top tier, Martín's loan was extended for a further year.  Girona had a surprise season in the 2023-2024 season.  He represented Spain at the youth level, and played for Basque regional team.

AM: Ander Herrera  (Athletic Bilbao)
Herrera began his career at Zaragoza, before moving to Athletic Bilbao in 2011 and then to Manchester United  in 2014. He moved to PSG in 2019, winning the domestic quadruple and starting in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich in his first season, In 2022, he returned to Athletic Bilbao.  He represented his nation at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He made his senior international debut for La Roja in November 2016, but would only ever make two appearances, his final one being in March 2017.
Ander Herrera 
LW: Ander Barrenetxea  (Real Sociedad)
Barrenetxea is a graduate of Real Sociedad's youth setup (he joined the club from Antiguoko in 2013, on the same day as Martín Zubimendi). nIn the 2018–19 season, he began to train with the senior team, while registered with the club's C-team playing in the amateur fourth tier. In early December 2018, he renewed his contract until 2025. He was selected for the 20-man Spain squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

AM/LW: Alex Berenguer (Athletic Bilbao)
Between 2014 and 2017, Berenguer played for Osasuna.  In 2017, he joined Torino after failing to join Athletic Bilbao.  After 3 yeqars, he finally joined Bilbao. On 6 April 2024, Berenguer scored the winning penalty in the Copa del Rey final shootout against Mallorca, which granted his club their 24th title in the competition and ended a forty-year major trophy drought

FW/RW/LW: Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao/Ghana) 
Developed at Athletic Bilbao's academy, he made over 375 first-team appearances for the club, including a La Liga record of 251 consecutive games. He scored the winning goal of the 2020–21 Supercopa de España. Born in Spain to Ghanaian parents, Williams made his full debut for the Spain national team in 2016. In 2022, he chose to represent Ghana at international level, being selected for the 2022 World Cup.

FW/RW/LW: Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao/Spain)
Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Williams joined the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao in 2013 from hometown side CA Osasuna. He began his senior career with the club's farm team, Basconia, during the 2019–20 season. He has been a star of Athletic Bilbao first team since 2021. His borther is Inaki Williams who played for both Spain and Ghana. He himself started to represent Spain in 2022, and played in the World Cup Finals. He starred as Spain won the 2024 European Championship.
Nico Williams 
ST: Mateo Retegui (Genoa/Italy)
Retegui began his senior career with Boca Juniors, who signed him years prior from River Plate.  After several loans, he joined Genoa in 2023.  Retegui represented Argentina at U19 and U20 level, but he chose to play for Italy in 2023.  In 2024, he scored twice in a 2–1 victory over Venezuela. He was the first Genoa player to score a brace for Italy since Virgilio Levratto at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He went to Euro 2024 for Italy.

ST: Gorka Guruzeta (Athletic Bilbao)
Guruzeta joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2014, from Antiguoko KE, but he left in 2018 after a relatively unsuccessful.  
He then played for CE Sabadell and SD Amorebieta in the lower division. In 2022, he returned to Athletic Club.  In the 2023-2024, he suddenly found successes.  His club won the Copa Del Rey.  He also came close in the Zarra Trophy after scoring 14 league goals.

ST/FW: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
The Frenchman joined Real Sociedad's youth academy and made , his senior debut in 2009.  He moved to Atletico Madrid in 2014 helping the club to reach the Champions' league final in 2016.  He also played for Barcelona before returning to Atletico Madrid.  At the time of writing, he was capped 135 times for France.  He made his mark at the World Cup in 2014 while winning the 2018 edition.  He also led the team to reach the Final of Euro 2016.  He won the Golden Boot that year.

FW/WF/LW: Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
Oyarzabal began his senior career in 2015 with Real Sociedad. It has been only club.  In the 2019-2020 season, he helped them to win the Copa Del Rey.  At the time of writing, he played 37 times for Spain.  He went to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He represented Spain at Euro 2020 and 2024. In the Euro finals in Germany,  he played all seven games for the champions, starting once. He scored the winning goal against England in the Final.  He featured for the non-affiliated Basque Country national team.
Mikel Oyarzabal
Players Pool
Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico), Sergio Herrera, Diego Laxalt, Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina), Jon Pacheco, Iñigo Martínez, David Garcia, Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina), Igor Zubeldia, Aritz Elustondo, 
Yeray Álvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Kévin Rodrigues (Portugal), Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Vesga, Alex Berenguer, Jon Moncayola, Manu Garcia, Unai Nunez, Ruiz de Galarreta, Hugo Guillamón, Unai Gómez, Raul Garcia, Iker Muniain. 

Squad Explanation
-- Eric Cantona, a French Catalan, controversially claimed that the 2010 World Cup victory belonged to Catalonia rather than Spain.  Spain's World Cup winning team in 2010 included 7 players from Catalonia. Only four of them started in the Final against the Netherlands with a fifth player coming off from the bench.  By comparison, Spain featured 8 players from Basque in the European Championship in 2024.  Three of them started in the Final against England while three more came off the bench.  Both of Spain goals came from players from Basque.
-- The Basque players on Spain's Euro 2024 team were Álex Remiro, Unai Simón, Daniel Vivian, Aymeric Laporte, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal.
-- Eight players from Spain's winning team in Euro 2024 represented Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. Aymeric Laporte, a former player of Athletic Bilbao, brings the total to nine players associated with these two clubs. It's worth noting that Real Sociedad Robin Le Normand is a naturalized player from France.  He is not on this team. His eligibility issue is explained below. 
-- Ten players on this hypothetical team played for Athletic Bilbao while six players from Real Sociedad.  Kepa Arrizabalaga, Aymeric Laporte and Antoine Griezmann were former members of either clubs. César Azpilicueta is the only Spaniard among the team members who has never been associated with either Athletic Bilbao or Real Sociedad.
-- In Euro Finals, Mikel Merino scored the winning goal against Germany.  The match against Germany was widely regarded as Spain's most challenging encounter in the tournament. Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal were the two goal scorers in the Final against England.
-- When assembling my Catalonia World Cup 2010 team, my aim was to avoid selecting any non-Spanish players. Although Lionel Messi and Hugo Lloris would have been eligible to play for the team, I opted to prioritize Spanish players. However, given the limited talent pool in Basque, I was more open to considering non-Spanish players for this particular team.  So I naturalised four players, namely Antoine Griezmann (France), Mateo Retegui (Italy), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamingo/Uruguay) and Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).  Griezmann and Retegui went to the Euro 2024 Finals, and actually played against Spain.  De Arrascaeta and Otamendi went to the Copa America held around the same time. Meanwhile, I also created a Ghana team that featured many naturalised players.
-- Athletic Bilbao won the Copa Del Rey in the 2023-2024 season.  In the league, they finished 5th that year, and they were followed by Real Sociedad in the 6th place. La Real has qualified for European football for four straight seasons. This season, they topped their Champions' League group ahead of Inter Milan, Benfica and Red Bull Salzburg before PSG eliminated them in the next round.
-- Xabi Alonso, hailing from the Basque region, guided Bayer Leverkusen to an extraordinary season that will be remembered as one of the greatest in German club football history. Under his leadership, the team accomplished an unprecedented feat in the Bundesliga by completing the entire season without a single loss. Their remarkable record of 28 wins, six draws, and zero losses showcases their unparalleled excellence on the field. They narrowly missed out on securing the treble crown after losing the European League title to Atalanta.  
Goalkeepers
-- Two of Spain's goalkeepers in Germany were Basque.  Both Alex Remiro and Unai Simon came from the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao, and they have established themselves as some of the finest goalkeepers in La Liga.
Alex Remiro
-- Guillermo Ochoa's Spanish surname, Ochoa, has Basque origins (Otxoa or Otsoa). This suggests the possibility of him having Basque ancestry, which could make him a potential candidate for this team.  He was less than a month from turning 40 years old at the time of Euro 2024, but his name should still command respect.  However, I considered Kepa Arrizabalaga, a native-born Basque, to be a more fitting representative of the Basque nation compared to Ochoa, who hails from Mexico. Kepa represented Spain on two occasions during the qualification for Euro 2024 in 2023.  Regarding his fitness level in the 2023-2024 season, he joined Real Madrid on loan at the beginning of the season following a serious injury to Thibaut Courtois. However, his time as the starter was cut short when Andriy Lunin took over the position. Subsequently, Kepa found himself predominantly serving as a bench player in Madrid, but he would be good enough to be Basque's third goalkeeper. 
-- Sergio Herrera who went through the youth ranks of Deportivo Alves should also be eligible.
Defenders
-- Robin Le Normand was a naturalised player from France. Was he  "formed" in the Basque Country? He was already 19 years old when he joined Real Sociedad from Brest in 2016.  He was assigned to their B-team playing in Segunda División B, but the team was not necessarily considered to be the academy team of the club.  The origin of his surname also came from Normandy.  He was born in Brittany in northwestern France.  So his connection to Basque was just about playing for La Real.  I ruled him ineligible.  Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte was also born in France, but he qualified through the "homegrown" rule by playing for Alethic Bilbao youth academy.  His great-grandparents were also from the French Basque region.  He is actually an automatic selection alongside Daniel Vivian, both of whom were part of the winning team in Euro 2024. Then, I reunited Vivian with his club mate Aitor Paredes who was ever presented for Athletic Bilbao in the 2023-2024 season.  He made a breakthrough into the starting line-up of the club earlier this season, forming a formidable partnership with Vivian.  They have the second highest winning percentage in La Liga, among partnerships surpassing the 500-minute mark. They won 57.8% of the games they started together (11 wins out of 19 starts), while only Real Madrid's duo of Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba has a higher winning percentage. 
Daniel Vivian
-- Iñigo Martínez and David Garcia would have been excellent additions to the defensive unit, but unfortunately they suffered injuries during the 2023-2024 season. Before joining Barcelona in the summer of 2023, Iñigo Martínez was a part of the Spanish national team pool, but his 2023-2024 season was plagued by injuries, losing his place on the team to Pau Cubarsí in Barcelona. David García was included as a member of Spain's Nation League squad in the summer of 2023, but an injury prevented him from playing in the Finals. He was replaced by Nacho. Then, he had a season filled with injuries as well.  Instead of the two Spaniards, I decided to naturalise Argentine Nicolas Otamendi.  In the summer of 2024, he represented Argentina in the Copa America.  He is also invited as one of the overaged players at the upcoming Olympics in Paris.  He would be the most famous central defender on this team.
-- Leonardo Balerdi was another great candidate from Argentina.  Throughout the season, he was enjoying the best form of his career in Marseilles.  He was on the bench for Argentina as late as June 2024, but he failed to make the team for Copa America.  I also considered Jon Pacheco, Igor Zubeldia, Aritz Elustondo and Yeray Álvarez.
--  In absence of a healthy young rightback, I opted for the experienced César Azpilicueta.  Due to his age, César Azpilicueta was not automatically included into the team.  Originally a right-back, his versatility became evident during his time at Chelsea, where he transformed into one of the top left-backs in Europe. Last season, he was redeployed to the rightback pistion. Óscar de Marcos is a veteran for his club team Athletic Bilboa.  He captained them as they won the Copa del Rey because their regular captain Iker Muniain operated out from the bench.  During this season, he played his 500th game for the club.  Due to his age, he is not the ideal rightback for this team, but I don't have another suitable choice. Aritz Elustondo could operate as either rightback or central defender. He also struggled with injuries throughout the season. Álvaro Odriozola is a famous player because he has played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.  In the 2019-2020 season, he won both La Liga and Bundesliga on the same year after playing half of a season between each club.  However, he did not play much with Real Sociedad this season.  
-- Ricardo Rodriguez's mother is a Chilean of Basque descent.  He is one of the most accomplished players from Switzerland.  In recent years, he is playing more of a centerback, but he locked down one of the leftback position on this team.  I looked into other leftbacks for the backup position. Aihen Muñoz sufferred a season-ending injury in January, 2024.  I ruled him out of the team. Yuri Berchiche was well-known because of his stint with PSG in the 2017-2018 season.  Due to his injury record this season, he shared his playing time with Iñigo Lekue.   Kévin Rodrigues who was capped by Portugal was a French-born player who had Basque blood in him.  In 2024, he is playing in Saudi Arabia. So I decided not to take another leftback. As mentioned, César Azpilicueta was a leftback with Chelsea so he could easily cover the position.  And Beñat Prados could operate as a rightback.  So I actually had two playerss each to cover boh sides of the fullback positions.
César Azpilicueta
Midfielders/Wingers
-- Both Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi went to Germany for Spain.  They are also teammates with La Real.  Their exceptional versatility enables them to excel in a multitude of midfield positions, including as a deep-lying playmaker, defensive midfielder, or in a box-to-box role.  In actual Euro Finals, Merino scored the winning goal against Germany.
-- I decided to select Benat Turrientes who was a starting midfielder for Real Sociedad. Beñat Prados made his first time debut in La Liga this season.  He emerged as one of Athletic Bilboa's pleasant surprises of the season.  Initially deployed as a right back or central defender, he eventually found his place in the team as a midfielder.  I took him over the more experienced Hugo Guillamón. Guillamón was a member of Spain's 2022 World Cup team.  However, he has fell out of favour since Ruben Baraja became the manager of his club team Valencia in February, 2023.   In the middle of the 2023-2024 season, he regained some playing time, but he was again sent to the bench at the end of the season.  I opted for the other midfielders. I also compared the estimated value of the three players from Transfermarkt.  Benat Turrientes and Beñat Prados were estimated at 20 million and 15 million euros respectively, while Guillamon was only 8 million.
-- For attack midfielder, I initially selected Oihan Sancet, who has been an outstanding player for Athletic Bilbao. Although he didn't make it to the Euro 2024 Finals in Germany, he has been a part of Spain's national team pool and has earned four caps since 2023. Notably, in the 2024 Copa del Rey final, he scored Athletic's crucial equalizing goal against Mallorca.  Despite not being a part of Euro 2024, he was one of the undisputed selections on this team.
Oihan Sancet
-- Additionally, I added the talented Uruguayan attacking midfielder/left winger, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, to the team. He has been a shining star in the Brazilian league for several years. During the 2020 World Cup Finals, he scored two goals for Uruguay against Ghana. He also represented Uruguay in the recent 2024 Copa America.  He is of Basque and Italian descent, which made him eligible for this team.
-- After that, I studied two veteran players from Basque, namely Raul Garcia and Ander Herrera.  At the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, Raul Garcia decided to retire from professional football. His remarkable career spanned 609 matches in La Liga, placing him third on the all-time list. Only Joaquín and Andoni Zubizarreta, with 622 matches each, surpassed his impressive record.  But he has passed his prime.   Instead, I went for Ander Herrera for his experiences.  He was actually plagued by injuries during that season, and only played 23 leagues matches.  However, he was rewarded with a renewal at the end of season from Ahtletic Bilbao.  His renewed contract highlights the trust and belief that Athletic Bilbao has in his abilities and the significant role he plays within the team. I think his experiences would be valuable assets on this team.
-- I also brought in Ivan Martin from Girona.  Martin might not be the best player on the Girona team this year, but certainly, he has been one of the reasons for Griona's dream season.  Girona finished third in the league and qualified for the Champions' League.
-- Unai Gómez was another surprise of the season for Athletic Bilbao, but I took players with better experiences.  
-- Iñaki and his brother Nico Williams has become two of the best wingers in La Liga.  Iñaki played his best season and has secured his place on the right side of the field.  In Germany, Nico was selected as a member of the Team of the Tournament.  Ander Barrenetxea usually plays as a left winger, though he can also play on the right. So he could backup both of Williams brothers. He created history on December 22, 2018, when he made his La Liga debut for Real Sociedad. Coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 home defeat against Deportivo Alavés, he became the first player born in the 21st century to grace the competition. I also selected Alex Berenguer who was mainly used as a substitute for Athletic Bilbao. In Bilbao, he lost many of his playing times to Nico Williams.  
Iñaki Williams 
Forwards
-- Mikel Oyarzabal has been a fixture for the Spanish national team since the 2020 World Cup Finals.   A few days before the start of Euro 2024, he scored a hat-trick against Andorra.  In Germany, he played every single game for Spain while scoring the winning goal against England in the Final.  He is more of a left side wing-forward, but in Germany, he played well in the center.
-- Iker Muniain retired at the end of the 2023-2024 season.  Instead, I took his club mate Gorka Guruzeta.  He is the top scorer for Athletic Bilbao this season.  He was one of the main reasons for the resurgence of the club this year.  This Basque team also lacked a pure striker. 
-- Then, I decided to naturalise Mateo Retegui who is also a pure number 9.  For Genoa, he only scored 9 goals that season.  However, he made his debut with Italy in 2023.  He already scored 4 goals before the start of the Euro 2024 Finals.  In addition, he achieved the remarkable feat of being the first player since Pierino Prati in 1968 to score in his first two competitive matches for the national side.  In Germany, he started against Croatia, and came off the bench in two other matches. 
-- Antoine Griezmann is eligible for this team because he spent 4 years in the youth academy of Real Sociedad. He was home-grown in Basque, which was a criterion for Athletic Bilbao.  In the 2023-2024 season, he scored 24 goals in all competitions.  Heading into Euro 2024, he would be the most famous player on this Basque national team. In Atletico Madrid this season, he evolved into a player who enjoyed the freedom to attack.  He is now a cross between a number 10 and 9. However, in Germany, he seemed to have lost a step.  His starting streak with the national team also came to an end.
Antoine Griezmann 
Formation
The formation is similar what Spain fielded in Germany.  Mikel Oyarzabal might be a better wing-forward, but Spain utilized him effectively in the center.  He responded by scoring the winning goal in the Final against England.   Zubimendi and Merino played together in Real Sociedad.  Griezmann, who thrived in a free role at Atletico Madrid, would relish a similar position in the team.  


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