UEFA Euro 2016: Most valuable XI

Srihari
M Neuer
Can Neuer guide Germany to their first Euro of the millenium

Such is the quality of the Barcelona attack that any expensive XI almost invariably contains the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. But with all three of them being unavailable for selection in this article, it will certainly be interesting to see who makes the cut up front.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a certain starter in the XI but who joins him in the side an interesting question, same goes for who plays in defence. Here is the most expensive XI according to transfer market in this year's Euro. The entire XI will cost you just 680 million euros.

So here is the most expensive European Championship 2016 XI:

Goalkeeper:

Manuel Neuer might be 30 and have made a few glaring mistakes in the last 18 months but there can be little doubt that the German shot-stopper is still one of the best in the business, if not the best. And if Germany are to claim their first European Championship title since 1996, the 30-year-old Bayern Munich keeper will need to be on his game throughout the tournament.

Despite the fact that both David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois are younger than him, the most expensive keeper, according to market value, is Neuer, valued 45 million euros. Second is de Gea, who despite not being a starter for Spain, is valued just 5 million fewer than the German shot-stopper.

Defenders:

Boateng, Alaba

The central defensive pairing will be Spain's Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. With both central defenders valued at 40 million euros, this pairing will be one that is high not just on experience but also on market value.

If Spain are to do the unthinkable and retain their European Championship title, they will need both players to be in top form. And considering Ramos is fresh from winning another UEFA Champions League title with Real Madrid and Pique won the league with Barcelona, both players come in the tournament in fantastic form.

At right back is Germany's Jerome Boateng. Although he is primarily a centre back by trade, thanks to his time under Pep Guardiola, he is more than capable of playing anywhere across the back line. Valued the same as the two centre backs, the 27-year-old takes his place on the right over England's Nathaniel Clyne.

The player Pep Guardiola has referred to as "god" is the one taking the left back slot. David Alaba might only be 23, but there can be little doubt that he is one of the most versatile players in the world. Although he primarily plays as a central midfielder for Austria, such is his versatility that he is adept anywhere across the defence and in midfield as well. And, as the most expensive defender on this list, at 45 million euros, he takes the left back spot.

Midfielders:

Ronaldo, Bale
The two most expensive players in this list are from Real Madrid

In central midfield is the French-German duo of Paul Pogba and Toni Kroos. As the younger of the two, Paul Pogba is valued higher but considering that both players are valued in excess of 50 million only speaks of just how good they have been and how valuable they are to their respective team's cause.

While Kroos will provide the solid platform by sitting deep, Pogba will provide the energy with his box-to-box runs and his eye for goal. Although both players are impressive from outside the box, the latter's preference for passing from deep and the latter's tendency to run with the ball makes for a good partnership.

In the attacking third is a trio of the best attackers in Europe. On the left, is surprise, surprise, Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 110 million euros, is the most valuable player in the entire squad. He is also the only player in the squad to be valued over 100 million and his consistency especially over the past few seasons, where he has scored at least 50 goals each year, shows his importance to the team.

On the right is his Real Madrid teammate, Gareth Bale, who is the second-most expensive player in this line-up. Although he might not be everyone's cup of tea at all times at the Bernabeu, the Welsh winger has been incredibly consistent since he swapped the white of Spurs for Madrid. At 80 million, Bale's value reflects his age and his potential as well.

Playing through the middle is the space investigator himself, Thomas Muller. The Bayern Munich forward is one of the best in the world when it comes to find space and put the ball in the net. Incredibly consistent and highly versatile, it is no wonder that he is valued at 75 million euros.

Forward and formation:

Lewandowski
Poland will rely on Lewandowski’s goal to go far in the competition

While there are plenty of good forwards playing in Euro 2016, there isn't any better than Poland's Robert Lewandowski, a favourite for the Golden Boot. Blessed with pace, strength and a keen eye for goal, there are few things the centre forward cannot do. And it is not for nothing that he is the most complete centre forward in the world at the moment.

Given the lack of quality centre forwards who are also young, it is unsuprising that the Bayern Munich frontman is valued at 75 million euros.

4-2-3-1

The side will play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with two central midfielders whose job is to primarily keep things quiet. With three high-quality forwards in front of them, who are blessed with pace, trickery and finishing ability, they don't really have to do a lot more than just find the right ball and recycle possession.

While the defence isn't entirely filled with players playing in their natural positions, they still have the positional awareness and defensive discipline to keep things quiet. And in Manuel Neuer, they have one of the best last line of defence in the world.

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