Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Dimitri Payet of West Ham have been named in Uefa’s team of Euro 2016.
Four players from European champions Portugal make the selection, including winning captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, the man of the match in his country’s 1-0 victory over France in Sunday’s final.
This is the first year in which Uefa has named an 11-man team rather than a squad of 23. Both Ronaldo (2004 and 2012) and Pepe (2008 and 2012) have been named in the squad on two separate occasions. They are joined in the side by goalkeeper Rui Patricio and left-back Raphael Guerreiro.
The team was selected by Uefa’s 13-strong panel of technical observers, a group that includes former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate.
Beaten finalists France contribute two players to the selection, Payet being joined by Golden Boot winner Antoine Griezmann, one fewer than the side they beat in the semi-final.
Germany contribute two defenders, Bayern Munich youngster Joshua Kimmich and his club team-mate Jerome Boateng, and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos.
The final two places in the side are taken by Wales players, Ramsey and Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen.
“After quite a bit of deliberation, the observers chose a team that features the best-performing players from the best-performing teams at Uefa Euro 2016,” Uefa coaching ambassador Ferguson said.
“We have chosen dominant central defenders; full-backs who can defend and attack; deep-lying midfielders who can control the game and dynamic, flexible and creative attackers, all of whom have the ability to create and score goals. We believe that the selected XI represents the best of the competition.”
