After the first round of games in the Under 21 European Championships, http://www.thefreekick.com/board/user/1742-mr-totti/]Mr Totti selects his best team from the weekend.
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<p style="text-align: center;]Sommer <p style="text-align: center;]Walker Smalling Bjelland Vila <p style="text-align: center;]Thiago Martinez <p style="text-align: center;]Shaqiri Dockal Herrera <p style="text-align: center;]Wellbeck <p style="text-align: left;]Sommer - The Swiss 'keeper made a string of impressive saves in his side's win over Denmark. Low on spectacular but lots of marks for staying tall, for moving his feet and commanding his defence. <p style="text-align: left;]<strong>Walker</strong> - In a game Spain dominated, Kyle Walker was a constant threat for England. His runs restricted Spain's advances on their left hand side and one such surge created the chance for Wellbeck's late goal. <p style="text-align: left;]Smalling - The Manchester United defender looked a cut above his new team-mate on this 90 minute showing. He defended with ease, strode forward with the ball and made countless interventions without needing to go to ground. Ray Wilkins would have been proud back in the studio. <p style="text-align: left;]<strong>Bjelland - </strong>The Danish centre back kept a lively Swiss strikeforce at bay for most of the game and looked untroubled throughout. <p style="text-align: left;]Vila - Didac had a good battle with Walker all game with neither full back showing any inclination to play deeper despite the threat posed by their counterpart. He linked up well with Mata and Herrera, though a more obvious central target would have helped when he did hit the byline. <p style="text-align: left;]<strong>Thiago - </strong>The Barcelona playmaker was clever in his use of the ball and his quick feet and short turning circle had England's more cumbersome midfielders in trouble. <p style="text-align: left;]Martinez - Athletic's Javi Martinez looks destined to join the other saviours of Spanish football (Xavi and Xabi) in a stellar midfield for years to come. Coupled a physical presence with silky touches and the ball seemed to gravitate towards him, not unlike his more celebrated senior colleagues. <p style="text-align: left;]<strong>Shaqiri - </strong>Built like a tank but with a wand of a left foot, Shaqiri lived up to pre-tournament expectations with a wonderful goal following a weaving run against the Danes. <p style="text-align: left;]Dolcak - The Czech playmaker was an elegant influence on a goalless first half against Ukraine but stepped up his influence further after the break with two well taken goals with his left foot to help his side to a deserved victory. <p style="text-align: left;]<strong>Herrera - </strong>Athletic Bilbao have just paid big money to bring Herrera back to the Basque Country and he was a constant threat for the English defence in Herning. His goal was scored via his arm but his movement and link-up play were what set him apart. <p style="text-align: left;]Wellbeck - The Manchester United striker was a pacy and willing outlet for an England side that spent most of their game against Spain under the cosh. He grabbed an unlikely equaliser late on, despite being marginally offside, but it was his work around the park that made him so useful on the night. <p style="text-align: left;]Honourable mentions: <p style="text-align: left;]Kock, Emagara, Xhaka (Switzerland)Filipenko (Belarus)
Perkhart, Lecjaks (Czech)
Konoplianka (Ukraine)
Jorgenson (Denmark)
http://www.thefreekick.com/blog/2011/06/under-21-european-championships-team-of-first-round/]Read the full story here
