Villa's hot stuff

Peter Fraser casts his eye over your Euro 2008 Hot or Not ratings to determine who's setting the tournament alight

Last updated: 11th June 2008

With the first round of Euro 2008 group games done and dusted, we have inspected your Player Ratings to hail who's hot and shame who's not in Austria and Switzerland.

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David Villa Spain goal Euro 2008 Russia

Hot: Villa scored 9.5 in your ratings

To check how your Hot or Not ratings measure up, click here

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Unsurprisingly, the swashbuckling performance of Holland features highly, while skysports.com editor Chris Harvey is already rubbing his hands as he makes plans for his winnings after landing a David Villa-inspired Spain in the office sweepstake.

As work-based allegations of a rigged draw rage, Villa is currently the star of the show and the Spanish striker's hat-trick helped his side rout Russia on Tuesday to top trump proceedings with a maximum score of 10 from awestruck reporter Steve Pass, while your rating of 9.5 suggests great minds think alike.

Villa the thriller is closely followed by Dutch schemer Wesley Sneijder, who orchestrated Holland's demolition job on world champions Italy to earn a nine from our journalist and a deserved 8.9 rating in your opinion.

Sneijder's compatriot and counter-attacker-in-chief Giovanni van Bronckhorst has also proved a hit as your almost identical 8.8 matches Ben Linfoot's nine, while you join us in demonstrating an appreciation of work-rate alongside style as fellow Dutchman Dirk Kuyt collects an average score of 8.2.

The goalkeeper to beat at this early stage is Edwin van der Sar. Highly held in the estimation of our scribe, the Holland shot-stopper is also rewarded for his stunning save from a curling Andrea Pirlo free-kick, which set up his side's third against the Azzurri, with an 8.2 to equal Kuyt.

Villa would appear the tournament's lone gunman, but his 8.5-rated pal Fernando Torres seems more than capable of occupying Spain's grassy knoll, while we agree and show our kind-hearted nature by offering the Liverpool frontman a near perfect nine along with an eight for Catalan defender Carles Puyol.

Sweden were perhaps not always singing from the same hymn sheet against a grizzly Greek outfit, more of which later, but we concur that the dynamic strike duo of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson would hit the right note as Benny and Bjorn in any Abba tribute act as the pair collect an admirable average of 8.5 and 8.1, respectively.

Rampaging Portuguese defender Kepler Pepe is honoured for his excellent give-and-go goal against Turkey with a far from shabby 8.2, while we were sufficiently impressed to offer a nine and his team-mate and new Chelsea signing Jose Bosingwa also scored well in our view.

And last but not least in your top 10 is Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, whose 36-minute substitute appearance against Russia earns him a respectable all-round eight and forces this writer into an embarrassing about turn.

Perhaps a controversial side note, but I do not feel Fabregas is all he is cracked up to be and when Luis Aragones snubbed the Emirates ace the, 'I told you so' bragging rights were stacked at the expense of my Arsenal-following colleague James Dall, but, alas, a late goal forces me to keep my head down.

However, one thing we all agree on is Greece's place in a rogues' gallery of rotten performances as only one player, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, from the defeat to the Sweden scored above a five. Reporter Chris Burton was a tad more generous, but it is safe to say we have all been checking our diaries to see who is covering the reigning champions' outing against Russia on Saturday.

Czech Republic striker Jan Koller and Emre, who flopped in a Turkey side with a seeming penchant for Am dram, also deserve dishonourable mention as the pair prop up the overall pile with feeble fours.

To also show we are not too proud to admit when we are a little wide of the mark, we should perhaps re-think our analysis of Russia defender Denis Kolodin. The stopper secured an charitable seven from a liberal-minded ranker, but, in a backline which leaked four goals the latter would appear the more accurate.

In conclusion, continental flair appears to be the order of the day. But will this continue throughout the tournament? Will holders Greece repeatedly fail to inspire? Will unsporting behaviour earn further low scores and has anyone been cruelly overlooked?

You can rate players' performances after every match at Euro 2008 and it will be possible to interact with our match coverage throughout the tournament. We will also continue to observe the Hot or Not ratings after every round of games.

Comments

Kt B (Arsenal fan) says...

CESC FABREGAS - not all he is cracked up to be! - you have got to be kidding. I agree... only near enough 30 assists this year, about 13 goals, a ridiculous number of accurate passes, 21 years old, 5ft 11 and controlling centre midfield - sure... hes definitely not that great. All those footballers who voted for him for Young Player of the Year - they are wrong aswell. Just so you know... I am being sarcastic - Fabregas is fantastic! You must be jealous.

Posted 21:29 17th June 2008

Mike Mccrorie (Liverpool fan) says...

Haha why is cesc in there? he has been mediocre at best in the few minutes he has managed to play. Deco and Moutinho have been a lot better. No Podolski!!??

Posted 18:12 17th June 2008

Huda Abdi says...

Cesc, You have got to be kidding me.....!! Van dar vaart deserves that spot more..!! And what about Podolski, he's been superb for Germany. Zlatan, come on you seriously have got to be kidding me..!! what has he done to deserve a place...he should be left back in the changing rooms..!!

Posted 19:27 13th June 2008

Daniel Peterson (Arsenal fan) says...

Torres??? Poldoski was ten times better

Posted 13:46 13th June 2008

Dennis Adu-sarfo (Arsenal fan) says...

Villa has proven what he is made of and can be the leading scorer of euro 2008. though there are some fantastic strikers in the likes of Torres, Toni, Gomez and potential goal scorers like Ronaldo but still tips him.

Posted 12:07 13th June 2008

Ross Greig (Rangers fan) says...

podolski should be in the team with his energy & pace on the left midfield and a great finisher when given any kind of opportunity up front.

Posted 11:16 13th June 2008

Liam Bolton says...

For the first round of games, where is Podolski? Zlatan did nothing until he scored. Podolski never stopped running.

Posted 19:39 12th June 2008

Malcolm Mclean (Manchester United fan) says...

Puyol?!

Posted 16:07 12th June 2008

Ian Martin (Celtic fan) says...

Surely Podolski should be in your top team, Two terrific goals and his will to support the two front players should be recognised. All this from playing out of his natural position on the left of midfiled

Posted 15:36 12th June 2008

Liam Taylor (Burnley fan) says...

with fabregas saying he would love villa to come to arsenal i wouldn't be surprised if he chose arsenal over any other team

Posted 13:25 12th June 2008

Patrick Feeney (Havant and W fan) says...

First of all that formation does not make sense, there's no balance. 2.Puyol is a very poor defender - why isn't Carvalho or Chivu there. 3. Where's Frings?, 4. Cesc only came on as a sub, how can he start. 5. Ibrahimovic done nothing apart from score that goal. 6. Where's Lahm, was the best full back of all the matches. 7. Ballack deserves to be on also. My team based on performances would be (4-3-1-2) Volkan; rb Lahm, cb's Pepe + Carvalho/Chivu, lb Gio VB; dm Frings, cm Xavi/Van der Vaart + Ballack, am Silva; fc's Villa + Torres

Posted 23:21 11th June 2008

Dennis Ord says...

Faberegas, ahead of Van Der Vaart, not for me

Posted 23:02 11th June 2008

Jon O'neill (Arsenal fan) says...

Fabregas not all hes cracked up to be? and you have actually found work as a football writer? whats the world coming to?

Posted 21:18 11th June 2008

Adam Spicer (Liverpool fan) says...

Van Der Vaart should not be in the Team Of The Week, as he was clearly outplayed by other players. Van Der Vaart played well, but there are only 11 places on the team. Perhaps he is on the bench.

Posted 20:48 11th June 2008

Nick Drayson (Liverpool fan) says...

I cannot believe that Fabregas is in that list. Ok, he managed to head in an open goal. I thought others in that incredible Spanish midfield were far better than him. Engelaar deserves alot more credit than he's been given.I also think Podolski and Frings deserve a place.

Posted 19:25 11th June 2008

Jan Jerebic (Liverpool fan) says...

Fabregas, this must be a joke. van der vaart played the whole match and much better than cesc.

Posted 19:09 11th June 2008

Dodge Davidson (Aberdeen fan) says...

Who cares if Cesc scored a late tap in header in a match that was over at half time! Senna for Spain was extraordinary in the midfield shutting down everything Russia had before it even reached Carlos Puyol

Posted 19:03 11th June 2008

Liam Chivers (Manchester United fan) says...

I'd say its pretty good, one thing is Anelka isn't getting on there.. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ronaldo pop up on there soon though

Posted 17:26 11th June 2008

Kristofe Tbr (Manchester United fan) says...

No complaints here what-so-ever, but just one miniscule point of contention, i'm cuirous to know how Torres would make this elite list ahead of Podolski? What does the man have to do to gain recognition? (clears throat), Hmm Liverpool fans vote much?

Posted 16:46 11th June 2008

Per Istre (Liverpool fan) says...

why is cesc out there, he barely played.. obviously he scored, but still I feel van der vaart or deco deserved that midfield slot more

Posted 16:26 11th June 2008

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