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The Manchester United seven - Was their Euro 2012 a success or failure?

posted: 11 months ago

Rooney E

Manchester United had seven players at Euro 2012, now all eliminated, how did they get on?

United had the joint-fourth most amount of players at Euro 2012 of all the Premier League teams, behind Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, and level with Chelsea. Rio Ferdinand's surprise omission made their contingent smaller than it might have been.

Of those who did go, here is an assessment of how they got on at the tournament.

Patrice Evra

Another international tournament with France, another failure for Patrice Evra. In one sense he was lucky to be included after his transgressions at World Cup 2010, but Laurent Blanc gave him a clean slate. France, while considered dark horses, were many pundits tips for the tournament, and thoroughly disappointed. For Evra, it was a most unsatisfactory tournament. He was picked in the first game against England, but after that he was dropped. It was made even worse that it was Manchester City left-back Gael Clichy who replaced him, and kept his place for the next three games. Age 31, Evra could well have played his last international tournament if the French as expected, turn to youth.

Phil Jones

There is not a lot to say about Jones, picked as cover for three positions, right-back, centre-back, and midfield, he didn't even get a minute of first team action. Clubmate Rio Ferdinand later said that Hodgson made a major error in not selecting him in midfield, at least ahead of Liverpool's Jordan Henderson. Only 20, the tournament will have been a good experience - regardless of his lack of action.

Wayne Rooney

Rooney scored his first international tournament goal for eight years, yet still left Ukraine with criticism ringing in his ears. The striker was of course suspended for the first two matches, and did not look match sharp when he appeared. He did score the winning header against Ukraine, but it was from one yard out and he missed a chance almost as easy in the first half. He could have won the Italy game with a 90th minute overhead kick, but it was not meant to be. He was criticised by none other than Fabio Capello about not putting in his best form for England, and will not feel like he has proved his doubters wrong.

Danny Welbeck

The striker was one of the few England players to return home with his reputation enhanced. The young forward scored with a majestic flick against Sweden - the winning goal - and was hailed a hero. His link-up play and hard work was praised all tournament, but against Italy he thrashed wildly at his best chance, created from a 1-2 with Rooney. He was later taken off, but England looked better when he was on, chasing back. He confirmed he has what it takes to be an international star and will look forward to many a tournament with England to come. United's star man.

Ashley Young

For Young, Euro 2012 was a disaster. After ending the season despised by rivals fans for his 'diving' the tournament gave an opportunity to win back the public, and he had reason to be confident, as England's most productive player for goals and assists in their last 10 games going into the Euros. Once there, he never lived up to the hype, despite being picked to start each match. His missed penalty capped it all off, and he will find like United players before him that he will be boo-ed at all opposing grounds next season and will have to rise above it and respond on the pitch. He made our Euro 2012 Flop XI. 

Anders Lindegaard

Lindegaard recovered from his season ending injury to make the Denmark squad, but was an unused reserve in goal, a position he does not want to become familiar with. At least he will be fresh for pre-season, and ready to do battle with David de Gea for the number one shirt. The plus for United is that he is fully fit.

Nani

In reaching the semi-finals, Nani outperformed each of his United clubmates. He scored his penalty against Spain in the shootout, only to see others fail and the nation knocked out. Despite his efforts, he never really set the tournament alight as he would have wished, often cutting a frustrating figure as he did at Old Trafford last season. Ongoing contract speculation may have been a distraction, but it is his job to put it out of his head. Portugal were reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo, and despite providing two assists in the group games, Nani never really did himself justice in the knockout rounds.

Who was United's best player at Euro 2012?

image: © pahudson

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