Euro Championships

June 13, 2012

The weather might not seem to agree, but summer is finally here.

Yes, the season of barbeques – even if they are taking place in the rain – festivals and international football tournaments is upon is.

And this year’s footie festival comes in the form of the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.

With England’s campaign soon to get underway we’ve been enjoying the early matches and hoping Roy Hodgson’s side can perform beyond admittedly low expectations.
Here at Nelson Scott we are beseeching Roy’s Boys to prove us all wrong, but there is a fear this isn’t the strongest squad England have ever had.

As recruitment consultants we like nothing better than to help improve understrength teams by helping bring in some real quality.

So what would we do if we had the chance to bring our expertise to the England side (and UEFA relaxed a few rules on eligibility!)?

We like to cast a broad net at Nelson Scott so our new ‘England’ team will include some of the stars of European football – although to make it more interesting we’ve limited ourselves to no more than one player from sides competing in the Euros.
Check out our new recruits below – and imagine what Nelson Scott could do for your team!

Goalkeeper

PETR CECH (Czech Republic). Chelsea’s Champions League penalty saving hero has been one of the top ‘keepers in the world for some time now

Defenders / Right back

LUKASZ PISZCZEK (Poland)
The host nation’s raiding full back Lukasz Piszczek helped German side Borussia Dotmund win the Bundasliga ahead of the mighty Bayern Munich

Centre backs

GIORGIO CHIELLINI (Italy)
Italians certainly know how to defend and Chiellini, a Serie A champion with Juventus this year, is the latest star off the conveyor belt

HOLGER BADSTUBER (Germany)
Dubbed the ‘best left footed defender in Germany’ by former Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal, Badstuber has established himself as a regular for Bayern and Germany

Left back

ASHLEY COLE (England)
We had to keep at least one genuine Englishman in the side, and while he might not always be the most popular there is no doubting Cole’s quality and consistency

Midfield

Defensive Midfielder
IGOR DENISOV (Russia)
Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Denisov is the glue that allows Russia’s attacking midfielders to push forward

Central Midfielder

LUKA MODRIC (Croatia)
Silky skilled Modric is one of Europe’s best passers of a football, with the Spurs playmaker currently attracting attention from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea

Right winger

CHRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal)
Former Manchester United star, Ronaldo has scored a stunning 84 goals in 67 games in the last two seasons for Real Madrid – this year helping them to beat Barcelona to the Spanish league title

Left winger

ANDRES INIESTA (Spain)
Which Spanish star do you pick? Barca legend Iniesta picked up no less than three Man of the Match awards while helping his country to World Cup glory in 2010 – including in the final

Strikers

KARIM BENZEMA (France)
Top scorer for the French in qualifying, Benzema helped Real Madrid win the Spanish title forming part of a fearsome attacking trio with Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain

ROBIN VAN PERSIE (Holland)
Arsenal sharp-shooter and skipper Van Persie blasted 30 goals in the Premier League in 2011-12, scooping the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year gongs in the process