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Following an enticing group stage and Round of 16, the Euro 2020 quarterfinal lineup has been set.
Multiple tournament favorites such as world champions France, reigning champions Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany have bowed out. As a result, some of the best players in the game will be conspicuous by their absence at the business end of Euro 2020. Nevertheless, among the eight remaining teams in the competition, there are a lot of quality big-name players who could help their respective teams go all the way.
On that note, let's have a look at a hypothetical most expensive XI comprising of the Euro 2020 quarterfinalist teams. Considering a 3-2-3-2 formation, let's get started:
# Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donarumma (Italy) - €60 million
Italy custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma may only be 22, but he is having a fabulous debut campaign at a major tournament.
The Italy No. 1 has impressed by keeping three clean sheets in as many group games for the Azzurri at Euro 2020. In the Round of 16, he made a series of fine stops against Belgium. Donnarumma's first appearance at the tournament also made him the youngest goalkeeper to represent Italy at a major tournament.
Making his debut for AC Milan at the tender age of 16, Donnarumma kept an impressive 91 clean sheets in 261 appearances in all competitions. He is currently a free agent and is likely to join French giants Paris St. Germain after Euro 2020.
# Defender: Aymeric Laporte (Spain) - €45 million
Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte has been one of the star performers for Spain at Euro 2020.
Playing his first major tournament, Laporte is a greenhorn in international football. After failing to make his senior debut for France, he recently shifted allegiance to Spain by dint of his Basque lineage.
But he has played well at the heart of Spain's defense at Euro 2020, helping the former champions keep two clean sheets. Laporte was also on the scoresheet during the 5-0 win against Slovakia.
The 27-year-old has been a standout performer in club football as well, notching up over 100 appearances in all competitions for City and winning three league titles.
# Defender: Alessandro Bastoni (Italy) - €60 million
Alessandro Bastoni made his Italy debut in a friendly against Estonia last year. He has since enjoyed his first taste of action at a major tournament when he came off the bench during Italy's group-stage win over Wales.
The 22-year-old centre-back has signed a new three-year deal at Inter Milan. He was a key man for Antonio Conte's team, who won their first Serie A title in more than a decade. Bastoni provided three assists in 33 starts during the 2020-21 campaign.
Bastoni has been courted by some of the biggest clubs on the continent. He could have a key role to play as Italy eye their first European Championship in more than five decades. They face Belgium on Friday for a place in the Euro 2020 semifinals.
# Defender: Pau Torres (Spain) - €50 million
Making his first appearance at a major tournament, Pau Torres has dazzled for Spain at both ends. The 24-year-old came off the bench and provided assists in the wins against Slovakia and Croatia, where La Roja scored five goals in each game.
Torres has been a consistent performer for Villarreal over the last two seasons, winning the Europa League with them during the 2020-21 campaign. He has been linked with a move to English giants Manchester United. He could start in Spain's Euro 2020 quarterfinal against Switzerland on Friday.
# Defensive Midfielder: Rodri (Spain) - €70 million
Making his first appearance at a major tournament, Rodri has played in all but one game for Spain at Euro 2020.
The 25-year-old, who plays in defensive midfield, has made over 100 appearances in all competitions in just two seasons at Manchester City. A key cog in Pep Guardiola's winning Premier League team last season, Rodri has continued his good form at Euro 2020 as well.
Renowned for his ability to win possession and kickstart attacks, Rodri will be looking to inspire Spain to a record fourth European Championship title.
# Defensive Midfielder: Nicolo Barella (Italy) - €65 million
Nicolo Barella, capped 26 times by Italy, has played thrice at Euro 2020 thus far; he stayed on the bench for the Wales game.
The Inter Milan midfielder has impressed in all three games and is likely to start against Belgium in the quarterfinals. Regardless of whether he starts against the Red Devils or not, Barella is expected to play a part in the marquee game.
Barella is coming off a fine season in club football, playing 36 of 38 games in Inter's Serie A-winning campaign, scoring thrice and assisting nine times.
Central Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) - €100 million
Kevin De Bruyne has been a player par excellence for both Manchester City and Belgium over the years.
The orchestrator in midfield for both club and country, De Bruyne has had a fabulous Euro 2020 campaign. After missing the tournament-opener against Russia, the 30-year-old marked his Euro debut in style, scoring and assisting in his team's come-from-behind win against Denmark.
De Bruyne, a three-time Premier League winner with City, also provided an assist in the 2-0 win over Finland. However, tournament favorites Belgium are fretting over his fitness ahead of the marquee Italy clash as he did not attend the final training season.
# Left Winger: Raheem Sterling (England) - €90 million
Despite enduring a rather indifferent 2020-21 season with Manchester City, Raheem Sterling has had a memorable Euro 2020 campaign.
The 26-year-old winger has scored in three of England's four games at the tournament thus far, netting the winners against Croatia and Czech Republic. He also scored the opener in the blockbuster Round-of-16 clash with Germany as England moved to within three wins of a first major title in more than five decades.
Sterling is the first English player to score his team's first three goals at a major tournament. He will look to continue his rich vein of form when England take on surprise quarterfinalists Ukraine in Rome for a place in the Euro 2020 semifinal.
# Right Winger - Jadon Sancho (England) - €100 million
Jadon Sancho is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the game. He enjoyed a fruitful stint with Borussia Dortmund that included 50 goals and 64 assists from 137 starts.
Surprisingly, despite his creative flair and ability to score goals, 21-year-old saw only six minutes of action at Euro 2020. That's because manager Gareth Southgate has preferred defensive solidity to creative flair, despite being spoiled for choice, considering the embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
Sancho, who is close to a move to Manchester United, is an unlikely starter in the Euro 2020 quarterfinal against Ukraine in Rome on Sunday. But he could play a significant role if the Three Lions happen to chase the game.
# Forward: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) - €100 million
Romelu Lukaku has carried his scintillating club form into Euro 2020. Starting all four games for the Red Devils at the tournament, the Inter Milan striker has scored thrice, netting a brace against Russia and once again Finland.
Last season, the 28-year-old scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists to help Inter Milan win their first Scudetto in 11 years. In Belgium colors, Lukaku has been just as prolific, making 26 goal contributions in his last 19 games following the match against Russia.
Lukaku will undoubtedly be one of the key Belgium players to watch out for as the Euro 2020 favorites look to prise open Italy, another title contender, on Saturday.
# Forward: Harry Kane (England) - €120 million
Harry Kane is the most expensive player still active at Euro 2020. He drew a blank in the group stages but broke his scoring duck in England's historic 2-0 Round-of-16 win against old rivals Germany.
A prolific scorer for both club and country, Kane has netted an impressive 35 times in just 58 games for the Three Lions. The Tottenham Hotspur striker scored six times in England's unexpected run to the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinals.
But three years later, England's deep run at Euro 2020 has come as a surprise to no one. Gareth Southgate's men have become one of the teams to beat in international football.
With England yearning to win their first-ever European Championship, Harry Kane will look to score at the business end of the tournament. Ukraine, the Three Lions' quarterfinal rivals, have been suitably warned. Harry Kane means business.
