Euro 2020 produced an array of unbelievable moments for goalkeepers, both good and bad. From Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty heroics to David Marshall being lobbed from the halfway line, it had it all.
Some boosted their stock to an immense degree, while others became laughing stocks. Such is the risk of playing between the sticks.
But, let’s not focus on the bad. Of the goalkeepers who played at Euro 2020, here is a list of the five best performers. The list will focus solely on the goalkeepers’ performances at the Euros – their achievements in other tournaments will not be factored in.
As such, there are some notable omissions. Hugo Lloris, Kasper Schmeichel and Rui Patricio are all superlatively talented players, but miss out on the top five. If the list was based on talent alone, it would look very different.
Without any further ado, let’s commence the top five best goalkeepers at Euro 2020.
5. Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois might be one of the world’s best ‘keepers, but on this list, he only makes the number five spot.
Make no mistake, Courtois is a world-class goalkeeper, and he has been for some time. He is prone to an occasional lapse in concentration, but besides this, he has virtually no weaknesses. He’s an extremely well-rounded ‘keeper, which is reflected in the stellar career he has forged.
It wasn’t the tournament Courtois or Belgium would’ve hoped for. Still, he managed to impress, keeping three clean sheets in five games and conceding a mere three goals. Not bad, especially when considering the aged defence that sat in front of him.
As far as goalkeepers at Euro 2020 go, there were few more talented than Courtois. He managed to keep out the likes of Artem Dzyuba, Ciro Immobile and Cristiano Ronaldo – no mean feat.
4. Tomas Vaclik
The Czech Republic were no strangers to a shock in Euro 2020. Their performance against The Netherlands blew many people away – and, notably, Tomas Vaclik kept a clean sheet.
Through their five games at the Euros, the Czechs conceded just four goals. This was in no small part due to Vaclik’s domineering command over his area. His excellent sweeping let the Czechs play a higher line, which in turn allowed Patrick Schick and company to thrive.
A composed figure in the net, Vaclik rarely looked unsettled and dealt with everything calmly. He made a particularly good save against The Netherlands, rushing out of his area to prevent a certain goal.
Vaclik has just moved to Olympiakos, following the Euros. He’s no spring chicken at 32, but Euro 2020 proved there’s life in the old dog yet.
3. Yann Sommer
For Switzerland, the 32-year-old Yann Sommer was nothing short of heroic. He has 66 caps for the Swiss, but Euro 2020 will certainly be his crowning achievement on the international stage.
While Switzerland didn’t keep many clean sheets, it was Sommer’s shootout performances that earned him a spot here. His penalty save against Kylian Mbappe was legendary for a multitude of reasons.
No ‘keeper at Euro 2020 made more saves than Sommer did. In total, he prevented 21 goalbound shots from hitting the back of the net. When you consider he only played five games, this really is an impressive statistic.
Sommer has been a very solid goalkeeper for many years now, and he proved he’s not slowing down at the Euros. He could still play a role in Switzerland’s international side for years to come if need be.
2. Jordan Pickford
Euro 2020 has been a brilliant tale of redemption for Everton’s Jordan Pickford. Last season, he was both lambasted and laughed at, for various reasons. Now he’s considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Pickford conceded just two goals from seven games, a truly remarkable statistic. Granted, the defence in front of him deserves some credit for this, but Pickford more than played his part.
While England’s defensive base was solid, when called upon, Pickford made some brilliant saves during Euro 2020. Furthermore, he provided accurate long balls forward to England’s attacking players, giving the Three Lions a reliable counterattacking option.
An excellent shot-stopper with world-class distribution to boot, when Pickford is focused, he’s a monster between the sticks. Who could forget that penalty save against Jorginho?
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma
What a year 2021 has been for Gianluigi Donnarumma. Amid the controversy surrounding his transfer to PSG, winning the Euros was a fantastic way to remind everyone how good he is. Not only this but he was also named as the Player of the Tournament – a top accolade for a goalkeeper.
While Italy looked defensively impregnable, Donnarumma proved his worth to the team on several occasions. The shootouts against Spain and England were notable occurrences where his talents were on full display.
He’s only 22, yet it feels like he’s been playing at the top level for eternity. If anything, it just goes to show how talented this young man is.
One day, Donnarumma will almost definitely become the best goalkeeper in the world – in fact, he may already be. He is becoming more and more consistent with every passing year. Once he reaches his prime, he will be practically untouchable.
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