{"id":596372,"date":"2021-07-17T17:14:01","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T21:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=596372"},"modified":"2021-07-17T17:14:01","modified_gmt":"2021-07-17T21:14:01","slug":"euro-2020s-top-five-goalkeepers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/07\/17\/euro-2020s-top-five-goalkeepers\/","title":{"rendered":"Euro 2020\u2019s Top Five Goalkeepers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Euro 2020 produced an array of unbelievable moments for goalkeepers, both good and bad. From Gianluigi Donnarumma\u2019s<\/a> penalty heroics to David Marshall being lobbed from the halfway line, it had it all.<\/p>\n

Some boosted their stock to an immense degree, while others became laughing stocks. Such is the risk of playing between the sticks.<\/p>\n

But, let\u2019s 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\u2019 performances at the Euros \u2013 their achievements in other tournaments will not be factored in.<\/p>\n

As such, there are some notable omissions. Hugo Lloris, Kasper Schmeichel<\/a> and Rui Patricio<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Without any further ado, let\u2019s commence the top five best goalkeepers at Euro 2020.<\/p>\n

5. Thibaut Courtois<\/h3>\n

Real Madrid’s<\/a> Thibaut Courtois might be one of the world\u2019s best ‘keepers, but on this list, he only makes the number five spot.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s an extremely well-rounded ‘keeper, which is reflected in the stellar career he has forged.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the tournament Courtois or Belgium<\/a> would\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

4. Tomas Vaclik<\/h3>\n

The Czech Republic were no strangers to a shock in Euro 2020. Their performance against The Netherlands blew many people away \u2013 and, notably, Tomas Vaclik<\/a> kept a clean sheet.<\/p>\n

Through their five games at the Euros, the Czechs conceded just four goals. This was in no small part due to Vaclik\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

A composed figure in the net, Vaclik rarely looked unsettled and dealt with everything calmly. \u00a0He made a particularly good save against The Netherlands, rushing out of his area to prevent a certain goal.<\/p>\n

Vaclik has just moved to Olympiakos, following the Euros. He\u2019s no spring chicken at 32, but Euro 2020 proved there\u2019s life in the old dog yet.<\/p>\n

3. Yann Sommer<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

While Switzerland didn\u2019t keep many clean sheets, it was Sommer\u2019s shootout performances that earned him a spot here. His penalty save against Kylian Mbappe<\/a> was legendary for a multitude of reasons.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sommer has been a very solid goalkeeper for many years now, and he proved he\u2019s not slowing down at the Euros. He could still play a role in Switzerland\u2019s international side for years to come if need be.<\/p>\n

2. Jordan Pickford<\/h3>\n

Euro 2020 has been a brilliant tale of redemption for Everton’s<\/a> Jordan Pickford. Last season, he was both lambasted and laughed at, for various reasons. Now he\u2019s considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

While England\u2019s<\/a> defensive base was solid, when called upon, Pickford made some brilliant saves during Euro 2020. Furthermore, he provided accurate long balls forward to England\u2019s attacking players, giving the Three Lions a reliable counterattacking option.<\/p>\n

An excellent shot-stopper with world-class distribution to boot, when Pickford is focused, he\u2019s a monster between the sticks. Who could forget that penalty save against Jorginho?<\/p>\n

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/h3>\n

What a year 2021 has been for Gianluigi Donnarumma. Amid the controversy<\/a> 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 \u2013 a top accolade for a goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s only 22, yet it feels like he\u2019s been playing at the top level for eternity. If anything, it just goes to show how talented this young man is.<\/p>\n

One day, Donnarumma will almost definitely become the best goalkeeper in the world \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>