As the quadrennial European Championships come to a close after a month's entertainment,it's time to look back and review various aspects of the wonderful event.Here,I run down a list of the players who shone despite being relative unknowns to the majority of the masses prior to the tournament.Some of those listed have earned their big move into the elite while the others have been celebrated in their homelands.
- WARSAW, POLAND - JUNE 21: Petr Jiracek of Czech Republic runs with the ball during the UEFA EURO 2012 quarter final match between Czech Republic and Portugal at The National Stadium on June 21, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Petr Jiracek was one of the stars for the Czech Republic at the Euros.His almost boundless energy,drive and persistence will be well remembered by the Czech fans.He scored two of the most important Czech goals of the tournament,his first was against Greece in just the 3rd minute of the game which set the tone for the evening and his second came against co-hosts Poland which propelled them to the top of group A and won him the Carlsberg Man of the Match prize.Born on 2nd March 1986 in the erstwhile Czechoslovakia,Petr was a kind of a late bloomer on the international scene.Having never played in the lower age groups for his country,Petr got his first cap in September 2011 against Scotland in a friendly.His energetic displays as a box-to-box midfielder for Viktoria Plzeň in the UEFA Champions League against the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan earned him a move abroad to VfL Wolfsburg in Germany.
- WARSAW, POLAND - JUNE 21: Vaclav Pilar of Czech Republic runs with the ball during the UEFA EURO 2012 quarter final match between Czech Republic and Portugal at The National Stadium on June 21, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Many tipped Vaclav Pilar to succeed in the Euros and the diminutive winger didnot disappoint.Dubbed as the Czech Messi because of his electric speed and lively dribbling,Pilar was a major attacking weapon for the Czechs down the left wing.He provided the goods too,chipping in with 2 goals,both in the group stages against Russia and Greece.Starting his career with Czech club Hradec Králové,Pilar found plenty of admirers and spent last season on loan with Viktoria Plzeň where he started every UEFA Champions League Group Stage games.Pilar is set to join compatriot Petr Jiracek at German club VfL Wolfsburg next season.
- WROCLAW, POLAND - JUNE 16: Theodor Gebre Selassie of Czech Republic on the ball during the UEFA EURO 2012 group A match between Czech Republic and Poland at The Municipal Stadium on June 16, 2012 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Gebre Selassie was a breath of fresh air in the tournament with his lung bursting runs down the flanks and energetic presence in the Czech defence.Born to an Ethiopian father and a Czech mother,Theodor was the tormentor-in-chief against Greece,providing the assist for his side's second goal.His performances in the tournament haven't gone unnoticed with German club Werder Bremen quickly snapping him up mid-tournament from Czech champions Slovan Liberec.
- GDANSK, POLAND - JUNE 22: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany and Dimitris Salpigidis of Greece fight for the ball during the UEFA EURO 2012 quarter final match between Germany and Greece at The Municipal Stadium on June 22, 2012 in Gdansk, Poland. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
A livewire on the pitch,Dimitris Salpingidis was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dull and obtuse Greek side.Blessed with electric pace and an eye for goal,Salpi,as he is better known as,scored two goals and assisted one as Greece stumbled onto the quarter finals.He was a supposed "game changer" in Fernando Santos' side but quickly changed his coach's perception of him when he delivered a high quality performance in the opening match against Poland where he came off the bench and single handedly threatened to win it for Greece,scoring the equaliser and then earning a penalty which captain Karagounis missed.He was the only Greek player to come away with some credit against Germany in the quarters with a goal and an assist.
- Krohn-Dehli in action against Germany
Krohn-Dehli was one of Denmark's star performers of the tournament.The former Ajax winger set the Danes off to a flying start in the tournament when he netted the only goal in the upset win over Netherlands which won him the Carlsberg Man of the Match prize.Krohn-Dehli was a constant menace to opposing full backs down the left wing where his trickery and quick movement left them for dead.Krohn-Dehli supplied the assist for Nicklas Bendtner's opener against Portugal and himself scored an unlikely headed goal against Germany.It was a tournament which reminded the world of his talents which went missing after being tipped for greatness and labelled a wonderkid as a teenager.
- POZNAN, POLAND - JUNE 14: Cristian Maggio of Italy and Ivan Strinic of Croatia clash during the UEFA EURO 2012 group C match between Italy and Croatia at The Municipal Stadium on June 14, 2012 in Poznan, Poland. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Ivan Strinic was one of the few players in the Croatia side who were into their first major international tournament.Considered an inexperienced member of the side having played only nine competitive games,Strinic was one of the finds of the Euros.As a relative newcomer,he played full 90 minutes of all the group games,keeping out the highly experienced Danijel Pranjic.The 24 year old left back provided the assist for Mario Mandzukic's equaliser against Italy.He bossed his flank well,and provided a constant threat down the left with his energy and precise delivery.
- POZNAN, POLAND - JUNE 14: Mario Mandzukic of Croatia with the ball during the UEFA EURO 2012 group C match between Italy and Croatia at The Municipal Stadium on June 14, 2012 in Poznan, Poland. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
p.s. Household names have been omitted.
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