Leading your national team in an international tournament is one of the biggest privileges in sport. They are players who've done it all, won all the accolades club football has to offer but wearing their national team’s jersey and leading out their players still makes them reverberate with emotion.
This article is dedicated to the players who have managed to consistently represent their country and rack up a multitude of appearances in the competitive times we live in. We’ve compiled an 11 from for the upcoming Euro 2016 in France, picked from the players who’ll be leading their countries in the tournament with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
When Gigi Buffon retires, he may well be considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time. From the young, exuberant, and athletic young man who announced himself on the global stage as a 17-year-old at Parma – against a star studded AC Milan side, no less – to the 38-year-old maestro he is today. Fresh off a record-breaking season with Juventus, Buffon has seemingly done it all.
Apart from a few brief spells of bad form, Buffon has been magnificent for the entirety of his 21-year-old career. Even after turning out a staggering 157 times for Italy, he still bellows out his national anthem with visible pride, and will be looking to lead an otherwise underwhelming Italian squad to the latter stages of the tournament in France.
Defence
Ashley Williams (Wales)
Wales just shipped 3 goals to Sweden in a friendly, and Chris Coleman did his best to shrug away the result. He certainly can’t let the alarm bells start ringing so close to the beginning of the tournament but will surely be sweating over their defensive performance.
He’ll be hoping Williams can use his Premier League experience to counter the threat of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane when the Welsh take on England in the group stages. Gareth Bale will look to make the most of his searing pace up front but how Williams is able to organize his defence will be equally critical in determining how far Wales can go in Euro 2016.
Lorik Cana (Albania)
Albania’s two best-known players are in defence. Elseid Hysaj is now being scouted by the best teams on the planet after his storming season with Napoli, but it is captainLorik Cana who will be the star man. After cementing his reputation as one of most consistent centre backs in Serie A at Lazio, he spent last season with Nantes in Ligue 1.
With 92 appearances for the national team, he’ll look to organise a strong defence as Albania look to shock a few big guns at the championship in France.
Christian Fuchs (Austria)
A year ago not many people had heard his name, but Fuchs is now the toast of English football. His gorgeous crosses from the left flank were imperative to Leicester’s unprecedented title winning run.
Fuchs made his debut for Austria when he was 20 years old and has amassed 75 appearances in 10 years. The Austrian faced a lot of setbacks in his career and even after the great season he’s had, he will go into this tournament with a promising Austrian side with nothing to lose, and a lot to gain.
Stephan Lichsteiner (Switzerland)
The 32-year-old Swiss right back is as dependable a player as any. Having just completed a fifth season at Juventus, he’s been at the center of a lot of transfer speculation in recent times. Clubs of the stature of PSG and Chelsea have been linked with him which shows how in-demand he is, even at his age.
‘Forrest Gump’, as he’s fondly called by the fans for his stamina and athleticism, there couldn’t be a more apt nickname and he’ll certainly inspire his Switzerland teammates to give their all and reach the Round of 16 at the very least.
Midfield
Steven Davis (Northern Ireland)
Steven Davis had the distinction of being Northern Ireland’s youngest modern day captain when he donned the armband against Uruguay in 2006, at 21 years old. Leadership clearly runs through his veins and the industrious and technically proficient Southampton midfielder has put in consistent performances in the Premier League for several years.
He has a knack for scoring crucial goals, he will lead a Northern Ireland side that did pretty well in qualifying – finishing top of their group – with pride and fortitude.
Arda Turan (Turkey)
Arda Turan made quite an impression at Euro 2008 as Turkey made a spirited run to the semifinals. His stepovers consistently floored defenders and his crossing was always on point, making him an integral part of Turkey’s surprising run.
Eight years later, Turan has come a long way from that promising 21-year-old. At 29, this might be his last chance to really make an impression at the European Championships and he will be keen to make an impression and lead Turkey to the knockout rounds.
Wayne Rooney (England)
There’s been a lot of debate in England over whether Wayne Rooney should be in England’s starting lineup and even some quarters over whether he should be in the squad at all. Considering his experience and credentials, it’s remarkable how keen people are to leave him out of England’s starting 11 but you only have to take a look at the current form of the other England strikers to really understand that they might have a point.
Rooney certainly can’t replace either of Jamie Vardy or Harry Kane on current form, but as Roy Hodgson is trying to experiment, there might be a way to accommodate the veteran after all. Hodgson is trying to play him behind the strikers, but his ideal role for the England team might be further behind, in midfield.
Rooney has the ability to spray passes across the pitch with ease and should be able to take on a playmaking role in the English setup. This would be a way to utilize his experience and leadership skills and let Vardy and Kane terrorize opposition defences.
Attack
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo has done a lot to dispel the notion that he doesn’t perform on the biggest occasions of late. Though he had an underwhelming game in the Champions League final, he was there to smash home the penalty that gave Real Madrid their 11th title. Moreover, his number of goals in the Champions League in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal.
He played a big part in Portugal’s qualification campaigns for the previous World cup and for the Euros as well. Portugal have an interesting mix of experience and youth in their midfield, and with Ronaldo leading the attack, they have a good chance of reaching the business end of the tournament.
Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Hazard has had a disappointing season for Chelsea by his own admission. It’s a situation he’s not at all used to, his career has only ascended with every year until the failings of the past season and the future will reveal a lot about his character.
His recent performances for Chelsea will make Belgium fans very optimistic as he looks to have reclaimed the flair and drive that was lacking throughout the course of the season and was so critically missed by his London-based club.
The Euro 2016 is a perfect opportunity to put the past season behind him and lead his country to history. The added responsibility of captaining the team should inspire him to give his best.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Choosing between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lewandowski for the center forward position wasn’t an easy decision to make but the 27-year-old Pole gets the nod. Lewandowski is one of the most in-demand forwards in world football, and it’s hardly a surprise considering his proficiency in front of goal.
Lewandowski’s swivel and finish against Real Madrid in the Semi-Finals of the Champions League in 2013 are probably his most iconic moments and an illustration of his technique. A great dribbler for his height, Lewandowski will lead a talented Poland side keen to make a mark at the Euros.
