The Euro 2024 Team of Matchday One - including Liverpool and Spurs stars

And just like that, one whole round of Euro 2024 group stage matches is done and dusted. Between Scotland’s dire defeat to Germany last Friday night and Portugal’s dramatic stoppage time win over Czech Republic on Tuesday, all 24 nations taking part have kicked off their respective campaigns.

We have seen demolitions and upsets, screamers and defensive calamities, and through it all, a simmering feeling that this could turn out to be a tournament that we all look back on with a huge amount of fondness in years to come.

But in the immediacy, who has caught the eye in Germany? We’ve compiled a starting XI of the best players at Euro 2024 so far, based solely on the 12 games that are already in the record books.

Unai Simon

A clean sheet for the Spaniard in his side’s 3-0 win over Croatia on Saturday, but truthfully, that only tells half the story. Simon faced a penalty and an xG of 2.67 in Berlin, but still managed to prevent his opponents from scoring.

Dani Carvajal

A relative veteran of the Spanish squad at 32, Carvajal is still proving that he is one of the very best right-backs in world football, and even popped up with a goal against Croatia over the weekend.

Radu Dragusin

Absolutely immense in Romania’s somewhat surprising 3-0 win over Romania on Monday, the Tottenham Hotspur defender was an omnipresent enforcer at the back, and Spurs fans will have been more than a little enthused by his performance.

Samet Akaydin

Turkey’s 3-1 win over Georgia might just be a dark horse for Match of the Tournament so far, and through it all, Akaydin was superb. The Turks will have tougher tests to come, but with the 30-year-old centre-back playing like this, they can take an awful lot of heart into their remaining group stage matches.

Erik Janza

His goal against Denmark may have taken a hefty deflection, but nobody in Slovenia will have cared in the slightest. Janza put in a solid display on Sunday, before capping things off by earning his country a crucial point.

Fabian Ruiz

A goal and an assist from the Paris Saint-Germain, including a lovely, nimble finish that sent Spain on their way to a commanding opening win over Croatia.

Michel Aebischer

Another who registered both a goal and assist, Aebischer was hugely influential in Switzerland’s 3-1 win over Hungary. One for Scotland fans to keep an eye on heading into Wednesday’s crucial clash.

Jude Bellingham

England’s hero in their opening victory over Serbia, the midfielder not only scored a decisive goal, but generally ran the show for Gareth Southgate’s side. A real statement of intent from a player who is expected to have a huge tournament.

Jamal Musiala

Musiala is one of the great pillars of Germany’s Euro 2024 hopes, and the Bayern Munich starlet shone brightly against Scotland on Friday. The attacker used to represent England at youth international level; what might have been...

Denis Dragus

It is hard to understate just how hard Romania battled against Ukraine on Monday afternoon, and Dragus was a perfect illustration of their fighting spirit, putting himself about at the point of attack, and ultimately earning his reward with a goal.

Cody Gakpo

According to stats gurus Whoscored, Gakpo was the player of the round following his showing for the Netherlands against Poland on Sunday. The Liverpool forward, stationed out on the left wing, was not only the score sheet, but also put in an all-round impressive attacking display that will have many questioning whether he might have found his most effective position.