Holland are sizzling

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

Last updated: 17th June 2008  

With the second 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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Holland are sizzling

Sneijder: 9 out of 10 again

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Once more, it is Holland that largely dominate - landing five of the 11 places up for grabs - after another stirring display, while goalkeepers impressed both reporters and readers following some fine shot-stopping in the second round of Euro 2008 group fixtures.

Poland keeper Artur Boruc was cream of the crop, with the 28-year-old denying opponents, and co-hosts, Austria on countless occasions via a number of cat-like reflex saves - which landed him a rating of nine from reporter Steve Pass and an average of 9.1 from yourselves - until the dying moments when he was finally beaten by a penalty.

Continuing on the theme of the gloved ones, before we eulogise the Dutch, £32million Gianluigi Buffon shone after his quite brilliant penalty save while his opposite number, Romania's Bogdan Lobont, made a favourable impression on us all, and not forgetting Turk Volkan Demirel who also joined in on the act with a goalkeeping performance that he could afford to look smug about.

There were of course a couple of sinners, those that did the men between the sticks no favours, with Frances' Gregory Coupet and Greece's Antonios Nikopolidis drawing truly rotten scores of four from reporters Gareth Friel and Rob Parrish respectively, a feeling matched by you via your ratings of 3.5 for Monsieur Coupet and 3.6 for veteran Nikopolidis (yikes).

So, onto Marco van Basten's easy-on-the-eye Oranje who served up yet another sweetly, refreshing performance, running riot over the quite grotty French - who seem intent on staging their own version of Les Misérables - with schemer Wesley Sneijder at the heart of all things positive as the Real Madrid man pulled the strings, and struck a later stunner, to earn a consecutive nine out of 10 from us - a figure mirrored by you.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was top-notch once more to land back-to-back appearances in our team of the round after a classy, buccaneering performance, earning a far from shabby eight while, further up the pitch, midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart's industrious display saw him also bag an acht (if we are to adopt a nation this tournament, it seems only right we should invest in some language lessons too).

Our Dutch five-some is completed via striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and winger Arjen Robben's inclusions. Van Nistelrooy was tireless in his efforts and played a pivotal role in Holland's attacks to land an average of 8.6 from you, while Robben pips Cristiano Ronaldo to our wide-left berth (I felt it all too easy and obvious to award the all-but faultless Portuguese man a place) after the Real Madrid winger was awarded 8.5 following a brilliant impact off the bench, assisting and getting his name on the scoresheet.

On the opposite flank of our five-man midfield, Arda Turan's all-round impressive display and stoppage-time winner for Turkey against Switzerland did not go unnoticed as he edged over the eight out 10 marker, whilst playmaker Sergei Semak sits centrally in our 11 after a captain's display to be proud of as Russia sent reigning European champions Greece packing with a game to play.

Alongside Van Bronckhorst at the back, keeping things organised and tight, is Russia's Sergei Ignashevich after he nipped Greece's few flutters forward in the bud, while we also have the enthusiastic and driven Fabio Grosso, who marginally missed out on an eight out of 10 rating after his showing versus the Romanians.

David Villa was again superb for Spain but lastly, partnering van Nistelrooy at the top of our tree is Ivica Olic, who struck Croatia's all-important second in their terrific 2-1 triumph over pre-tournament favourites Germany to acquire a score of 8.1 as charismatic coach Slaven Bilic celebrated his side's progression to the quarter-finals with a group encounter to spare.

Speaking of our friends the Germans, at the wrong end of the scale we have left-back Marcell Jansen who suffered a truly torrid outing and was condemned by receiving an average reader rating of 3.8. Interestingly, it seems scribe Lewis Rutledge must have been in a generous mood that day after he dished a charitable five.

However, Jansen escapes the bottom of the pile thanks to a French few, following their whooping at the hands of Holland. Florent Malouda, who I still cannot believe cost Chelsea £13million, scooped a feeble four from our journalist and a 3.3 from you, while surprising selection for Euro 2008 Bafetimbi Gomis' inability to control a football landed him the unwanted tag of worst player of the round according to our readers with a cringe-worthy rating of 2.6 out of 10.

After further investigation I also stumbled across two glaring disagreements, with Portugal's Deco securing a joyful 8.5 from you but a mere six from football editor Mark Buckingham, while reporter Stephen Joyce's rating of 7 for Switzerland's Stephan Lichtsteiner clashed horribly with your score of 4.7.

In conclusion, it is attacking gusto that appears to be tantalising yours and our taste buds. But will the splendid expression continue? Or will sides steadily adopt a more cautious approach as we enter the crucial final group games? And what of our selections, do you feel we have crucially overlooked an individual or two when selecting the star XI?

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 (15)

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Mark Murdoch (Celtic fan) says...

I pray every night that Celtic can hold onto Boruc, he is simply class but big offers could be too good to refuse. Holland seem to have it all down the left with Gio, Sneijder and Robben playing immense and giving them the width that can win them games. At the other side of the pitch I think Arda Turan has also been magnificent and hopefully he can keep the prerformances up. I can't understand why David Villa is not in this team though, he has been an absolute joy to watch!

Posted 07:32 18th June 2008

Max Howick (Arsenal fan) says...

I think that Holland will win Euro 2008 as and Van Persie. Also beating both world up finalists is brilliant also they have the best players like Van Nisteroy and van persie. Come on Holland

Posted 20:41 17th June 2008

Rob Cieka (Manchester United fan) says...

I want you all to take note. As much as I hope I'm wrong, I will put my house on Holland NOT WINNING Euro 2008. The team that peaks early NEVER wins.

Posted 15:26 17th June 2008

Conor Says (Celtic fan) says...

hav to say that this team duz seem about rite.all players showin real class in the 1st cpl opening games.. clearly boruc is 1 or if not the best goalkeeper around at that moment...celtic must be prayin that they dont hav da sell him. really impressed by van bronckhorst..really tormented italy and got up and dwn they wings lik he did 5 or 6 yrs ago..

Posted 14:53 16th June 2008

Stuart Mitchell (Manchester United fan) says...

those that are saying where is villa, you only have yourselves to blame that team is made up from the player ratings so obviously people believe that Ivica olic is better than villa.

Posted 14:10 16th June 2008

Nathan Gill (Arsenal fan) says...

I don't understand why David Villa is replaced for "ivica olic" , to me he has been almost perfect . Nobody expected David villa and Van nistleroy to shine but it shows that even at old age van nistleroy is an athlethe. Shame Man utd no ronaldo and for selling Ruud van nistleroy . Hope that Arsenal can review their intrest in Villa and be the first one to offer cash for villa.

Posted 12:20 16th June 2008

Richard Hedley says...

Can't see why Pepe from Portugal is not in defence, his goal got the game rolling. There was nothing before that. He reminds me of Laurent Blanc when france won the euro cup. e.g. Blanc was good in defence and ran with the ball through the middle making space, Pepe doe the same.

Posted 12:10 16th June 2008

Nick Hastie (Manchester United fan) says...

Only Liverpool fans want Villa in that team, probably because they want him in their club team too. He scored a last minute winner and would deserve a place on that XIs bench, along with Podolski. But the two strikers there deserve their places. Ronaldo scored and set up one, and I can say its not biased with him being a United player as hes (in my opinion already) a Madrid player. But Robben deserves it more than him. Stop being biased people and let the players displays do the deciding!

Posted 11:36 16th June 2008

Simon Campbell says...

What do you mean where's Villa, its players of the second round of games, and yes he played well but the 2 strikers in the team clearly put in more impressive displays, obviously if it was team of the tournament so far then villa would be in there. Predicting lowest rating this week to go to Cech after his howler and expecting to see Nihat in the team.

Posted 11:23 16th June 2008

Kevin Argue says...

Looks alright but agree with the others Villa should be there along with Torres this is the best strike partnership at Euro 2008. Can't see Italy getting out of group so a Spain v Holland semi for me which could be the game of the tournament, Croatia v Portugal in the other both games difficult to call but a Portugal v Holland final would be a great game.

Posted 09:59 16th June 2008

Edwin Turner (Aston Villa fan) says...

You are silly Mashud Miah. Villa was kept pretty quiet against the Swede's until the final moments. Olic on the other hand was a thorn in Germany's side throughout.

Posted 09:35 16th June 2008

Daniel Pinder (Sunderland fan) says...

Team is just about spot on. This summer's tournament has really impressed me after a slow start. Fingers crossed for more of the same.

Posted 09:17 16th June 2008

Lee Brownlie (Everton fan) says...

looks pretty good but surprised Villa's not there up front or even Podolski... SF =portugal v Croatia and Holland v Italy, for me... you'd expect Holland to walk it at this stage but I wouldn't bet against Italy coming good if they progress... certainly don't think they'd lose 3-0 to the Dutch if given a 2nd bite at the apple

Posted 06:41 16th June 2008

Joel Whitham (Liverpool fan) says...

How can David Villa be omitted from this team? He has been by far the best striker at Euro 2008! If he comes to Anfield this summer it will be amazing.

Posted 02:15 16th June 2008

Mashud Miah says...

Where's Villa? This is silly.

Posted 23:56 15th June 2008
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