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Andres Iniesta
Euro 2012: Spain's Andres Iniesta named player of the tournament
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has been named player of Euro 2012 by Uefa.
Inspirational Iniesta
- Started all six games for Spain at Euro 2012
- One of only four players to feature in 18 of Spain's 19 games in the last three major tournaments. The others being Xavi, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.
- At the 2010 World Cup, the only game Iniesta was substituted in, Spain lost.
The Barcelona player, 28, was selected by Uefa's technical committee after helping Spain beat Italy 4-0 in Sunday's final.
"Picking Iniesta sends a message about creativity, incisive football and humility," Uefa technical director Andy Roxburgh said.
Spain also had 10 players named in the 23-man team of the tournament, with England's Steven Gerrard also included.
"Gerrard played really, really well and showed great leadership qualities," Roxburgh added.
Iniesta, who scored in the 1-0 win over Holland in the final of the 2010 World Cup, played every game for Spain in the tournament.
He was named in the team of the tournament at the last World Cup as well as Euro 2008, where he played the entirety of Spain's 1-0 win over Germany in the final.
Iniesta has been just as inspirational for his club as he has for Spain, helping Barcelona to two Champions League and three La Liga titles in the last four years.
Liverpool midfielder Gerrard and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were the only selections in the team of the tournament from sides that did not reach the semi-finals.
Others to be recognised for their performances in Poland and Ukraine include Italy's Andrea Pirlo and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Euro 2012 team of the tournament: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Ita), Iker Casillas (Spa), Manuel Neuer (Ger)
Defenders: Gerard Pique (Spa), Fabio Coentrao (Por), Philipp Lahm (Ger), Pepe (Por), Sergio Ramos (Spa), Jordi Alba (Spa)
Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Ita), Steven Gerrard (Eng), Xavi (Spa), Andres Iniesta (Spa), Sami Khedira (Ger), Sergio Busquets (Spa), Mesut Ozil (Ger), Andrea Pirlo (Ita), Xabi Alonso (Spa)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Ita), Cesc Fabregas (Spa), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Swe), David Silva (Spa)
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Comment number 167.
britishfan4th July 2012 - 0:37
well denco , as you view it kaka gattuso pirlo dominated gerrard,really? how farcicle is that of you to think this. steven gerrard single handedly won LFC the champion league v milan, nothing stopped him, kaka was in his shadow all night. as for gattuso and pirlo they were ran rings around that night by steven. gerrard is the best midfielder of the century.
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Comment number 166.
Youneverwinagain3rd July 2012 - 22:41
@ 164.
Pirlo aint that good, he was much better few years ago. The thing is that England were so useless that Pirlo could shine against them. Pirlo wasn't good against Spain, a team with class.
Link to this (Comment number 166)
Comment number 165.
Youneverwinagain3rd July 2012 - 22:12
There are some world class players in England squad (Rooney, Ashley Cole and perhaps Hart and Lescott). But they can't perform 100% while they have to play with mediocres like Glen Johnson, Gerrard, Milner, Kelly, Parker, Young, Downing...
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Comment number 164.
denco103rd July 2012 - 20:44
Glen Johnson exceeded my expectations and if he was nominated I would support it but Gerrard did not do much against France and against Italy till he came up to take the penalty I thought he had been subbed. Yes he can dominate against a Sweden side with illustrious names like Seb Larsson and Andres Svensson but against the likes of Pirlo he was nowhere to be seen.
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Comment number 163.
denco103rd July 2012 - 20:28
I do not support Man United I support Barcelona. It is typical of the average English fan that you think everyone is as biased as you are. Just as United were totally outplayed by Bayern but won so were Liverpool only the most biased and blinkered fan would say otherwise. To the commenter below Arbeloa was nominated cos he is useless, neither was Torres and Spain were excellent.
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Comments 5 of 167