There have been some outstanding performances this season, most notably from younger players in Europe’s top five leagues. The role of experience is sometimes overplayed. The importance of youthful exuberance to inject unpredictability and fresh impetus into a side can also be the difference between success and failure.
With that in mind, here is Squawka’s Under-21 European Team of the Season.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Courtois was superb in goal for Atletico, keeping 20 clean sheets in 37 La Liga appearances.
He also averaged 2.73 saves per goal conceded which is a remarkable feat. The Belgium international started the season as one of the most promising goalkeepers in football and finished it as one of the best.
DEFENCE
Right-back: Daniel Carvajal
The 22-year-old’s Performance Score of 685 is the third-best out of defenders at the club, which is a very decent effort considering the two ahead of him are Sergio Ramos (1138) and Pepe (1016).
Carvajal was also selected to be a part of Spain’s World Cup squad, capping off a strong season.
Centre-back: Joel Matip
He was a colossus in defence, winning 68% of his headed duels – a total of 120. That is a staggering number and certainly one of the highest in Europe. To add to that, he also scored three goals, all with his head, proving how dominant he is in the air.
Matip is sure to become one of the best defenders in Europe and the last season provided us with another reason to believe exactly that.
Centre-back: Aymeric Laporte
He was excellent in defence, winning 82 headed duels at a success rate of 61%. He also completed 23/34 take-ons – a success of 68%. He was superb last season for Athletic and has a bright future ahead of him.
Laporte may end up staying with Bilbao next season but a repeat of last season, he could be on his way to a much bigger club.
Left-back: Ricardo Rodriguez
He had a superb campaign, creating a mammoth 78 chances and scoring five goals, from full-back no less. It doesn’t end there either, he completed 87 take ons at a success rate of 77%.
Rodriguez also won 102 headed duels and 90 tackles. Most players average out overall and some have one or two standout statistics but Rodriguez’s figures are absolutely sensational across the board. He will not be at Wolfsburg for long, especially if he carries his form into the World Cup this summer with Switzerland.
MIDFIELD
Central midfield: Paul Pogba
His form in Serie A has led to links with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea as they all seek to sign the next big midfield star of his generation.
Pogba took a big risk in leaving Manchester United but it has paid off, and then some. He scored seven goals in Serie A last season as he won the title with Juventus once again. The Frenchman also created 48 chances and won 73 headed duels as well as 68 tackles. He’s an all-round package and is already a bonafide star.
Central midfield: Rafinha
Rafinha also, unusually, was involved in an incredible number of fouls throughout the season. He was fouled 111 times. Rafinha’s Performance Score of 852 was Vigo’s highest, and by some distance too.
Attacking midfield: Ross Barkley
Despite not registering an assist in the league, Barkley scored six goals and created 25 chances. He is known for his quick turn of pace and ability to break forward with the ball at his feet. That is why he has completed 80 take-ons in 34 appearances. Only Raheem Sterling, who made 92, completed more of players aged 21-and-under in the Premier League.
He is with the England squad heading to the World Cup and is set for a bright future after a breakthrough year.
FORWARDS
Right wing: James Rodriguez
Rodriguez is set for a big summer in the World Cup after scoring 1083 in Squawka’s Performance Score. The only other player to Score more than 1000 points at Monaco was Ricardo Carvalho (1013).
Rodriguez had a fantastic season but was one of the most fouled players in Europe, being fouled 80 times. He also completed 45 take-ons, which isn’t a fantastic figure, but will want to improve on that next season.
Left wing: Raheem Sterling
He also created 51 chances which was the fifth-highest at the club. Sterling’s pace and dribbling ability are his best aspects and the fact that only Luis Suarez (93) and Eden Hazard (132) completed more take-ons than him in the Premier League proves just that.
He joins most of this team at the World Cup, where similar performances will see his stock sky rocket.
Centre forward: Romelu Lukaku
He was Everton’s top scorer and only finished a couple of goals of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero in the final scoring charts.
Lukaku is set for a big summer with Belgium and scored a hat-trick in their warm-up game earlier this week. He’s had a good season and worked through a tough period midway through the season to finish strongly.
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