Euro 2024: Best XI of the last 16
- 90min picks Euro 2024 team of the last 16
- Spain and Turkey impressed to secure places in quarter-finals
- 21-year-old winger Nico Williams starred once again
Well, it's pretty fair to say that the last 16 of Euro 2024 wasn't the most thrilling tournament rounds we've ever witnessed.
Despite that though, there were plenty of individual performances worth shouting about, with the likes of Diogo Costa, Merih Demiral and Nico Williams all shining in the first batch of knockout games.
This is 90min's team of the last 16 at Euro 2024...
GK: Diogo Costa
Although TV commentators exclaimed that the penalty shootout win was 'Cristiano Ronaldo's redemption' after missed a spot kick in extra time, there was no doubting who the actual hero of Portugal's win over Slovenia.
It was Diogo Costa, who saved all three of Slovenia's penalties in the shootout, something no goalkeeper had ever previously done in the history of the European Championships to almost single-handedly book his nation's place in the quarter-finals.
RB: Denzel Dumfries
The Netherlands were brilliant in the final third in their thumping win over Romania, and that was thanks in large part to their prowess out wide.
A huge chunk of that prowess came courtesy of Inter star Denzel Dumfries, who consistently caused problems for the Romanian backline throughout the 3-0 victory.
CB: Merih Demiral
It's pretty fair to say that Merih Demiral put in the greatest performance of his life against Austria.
At one end, he bagged a brace to give Turkey a lead, and at the other he made 17 clearances (yes, 17!), four blocks and a total of 24 defensive actions to ensure his nationa held onto that lead and booked their place in the quarter-finals.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck
Considering some of his performances for Borussia Dortmund in the latter stages of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League, it's perhaps no surprise that Nico Schlotterbeck is thriving in high-pressure Euro 2024 games for Germany.
The centre-back bagged and assist and looked solid as a rock in the win over Denmark.
LB: Ferdi Kadioglu
Turkey were immense defensively against Austria and Ferdi Kadioglu was a huge reason for that.
The left-back won a rather remarkable 10 duels in the win while also regularly providing Turkey with a way out of their defensive third with his powerful running in the latter stages too.
CM: Fabian Ruiz
Has Fabian Ruiz been the Euro 2024 player of the tournament so far?
Yeah, probably.
Once again, the PSG star was imperious in midfield against Georgia, scoring a header to give his side the lead and teeing up Nico Williams with a brilliant pass for his side's third.
He's a top, top player.
CM: Rodri
Rodri is a player who scores big goals.
And against Georgia, he scored another one.
This time it was an equaliser to set Spain on their way to a win, sweeping home from the edge of the box after Robin Le Normand had scored an own goal to give Georgia a shock lead.
RW: Arda Guler
It's pretty remarkable that Real Madrid have so many great young players on their books that Arda Guler has become a bit of an afterthought.
At international level however, he's very much the star of the show for Turkey.
The 19-year-old was given the keys to the Turkey attack on Tuesday and he repaid Vincenzo Montella's faith with a fantastic performance - bagging an assist with one corner, and causing so chaos with another in the lead up to the first goal.
AM: Xavi Simons
So this is the Xavi Simons that we've all been waiting for.
After a few so-so outings in the group stages, the youngster showed what all the fuss is about in the win over Romania.
Simons was at his creative best in the win, racking up two assists to help the Dutch set up a quarter-final clash with Turkey.
LW: Nico Williams
It's very, very easy to see why half of Europe has been linked with a move for Nico Williams this summer.
After his goal and star turn in the win over Georgia, the Spain star's €58m release clause looks like even more of a bargain than it already did.
ST: Cody Gakpo
The Euro 2024 top scorer put in one of the best individual performances of the tournament so far on Tuesday.
His goal in the first half set the Dutch on their way to a win, and the strength, skill and determination he showed to set up the second was extremely impressive too.
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