✨ EURO 2024 best XI of the Round of 16

We now have our eight EURO 2024 quarter-finalists after some dramatic last 16 action from Germany.

But who stood out most to make our best XI?

GK: Diogo Costa (Portugal)

While Turkey’s Mert Günok may have pulled off the save of the tournament, there’s no doubt that the best overall performance of the last 16 belonged to Costa, who became the first goalkeeper in tournament history to avoid being beaten in any description across 120 minutes and a penalty shootout.

He pulled off a huge one-on-one save towards the end of extra-time to deny Benjamin Šeško and send the tie to penalties, where the Porto star saved every single kick to steer Portugal through.

RB: João Cancelo (Portugal)

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Across 90 minutes and extra-time, the tireless full-back put on a masterclass of modern attacking play for a defender, his technical ability causing plenty of problems for the Slovenian defence with a series of sublime touches to play Portugal out of the back and on the offensive.

CB: Merih Demiral (Turkey)

There will be toasts across Türkiye in their centre-back’s honour as he dragged them to victory over Austria in Leipzig. Not only did he head and clear everything that came near his side’s box (including one vital last gasp intervention), Demiral also netted both goals at the other end from set-pieces in the 2-1 win.

CB: Pepe (Portugal)

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We’re finding it hard to believe that the evergreen defender really is 41. Bar one slip, which could have proved costly were it not for his goalkeeper, the veteran was outstanding against Slovenia and cruised through the game – making things look easy as he helped mastermind another clean sheet.

LB: Ferdi Kadioğlu (Turkey)

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What a shift the Fenerbahçe man put in down the left flank from start to finish in difficult conditions due to the torrential rain in Leipzig. His collapse at the full-time whistle showed just how much he put into his evening’s work

CM: Remo Freuler (Switzerland)

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Took his goal so well to open the scoring and never look ruffled by anything the Italy midfield could offer thereafter, proving the perfect partner alongside Granit Xhaka as Switzerland’s midfield dominated their way to a 2-0 win.

In fact, so good was the Leverkusen star that it is by virtue of Freuler’s goal that he narrowly gets the nod ahead of him.

CM: Rodri (Spain)

When he was needed with Spain behind, the Manchester City man proved his reliability by stepping up as he so often has before to net his country’s first Euros goal from outside the penalty area since 2000, paving the way for another towering showing.

CM: Jude Bellingham (England)

For 94 minutes, it was far from a vintage performance from the Real Madrid man who cut a frustrated and isolated figure.

But he earns his inclusion by way of his Roy of the Rovers moment at the death – rescuing England with their latest ever normal time goal at a European Championship, doing so with a stunning overhead kick to carry his knack of late heroics from the season over into the summer.

RW: Lamine Yamal (Spain)

Although he had a somewhat quiet first half, the Barcelona phenom burst into life with a vibrant vengeance after the interval and clocked up a delightful assist as Spain saw off Georgia in style with a 4-1 win to tee up a mouthwatering quarter-final against hosts Germany.

ST: Donyell Malen (Netherlands)

Although he didn’t start the game (coming on as a half-time substitute) or strictly operate at the centre of the attack, the Dortmund man has to get the nod for his late double which ruthlessly finished Romania off in the Netherlands’ 3-0 win.

He even dodged some rogue and unwanted objects on the field to do so for his second!

LW: Nico Williams (Spain)

Is it time to seriously consider the Athletic Club ace as the player of the tournament so far in Germany?

At times, he was his explosive and unpredictable best, with Georgia’s defenders struggling to get a handle on how to deal with him. He netted a fine individual goal to open his account for the competition, claimed an assist for Rodri’s opener and finished up with a perfect pass completion record too.