Saturday, October 18, 2014

Euro 2016 Team of the Week: Ronaldo, Keane and Chiellini among the heroes


The Portugal star earned his country a vital win with a last-minute goal against Denmark while the Republic of Ireland were among the sides collecting another six points.


Cristiano Ronaldo's vital last-minute winner for Portugal has earned the Real Madrid star a place in Goal's European Qualifiers Team of the Week for Matchday Two and Three.

Ronaldo scored in the 95th minute to move Fernando Santos' side off the bottom of Group I after their shock defeat to Albania in the opening round of fixtures.

The 29-year-old is joined by Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored both of Iceland's goals in their famous 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in Reykjavik.

Also lining up in midfield are Marek Hamsik, who struck twice in Slovakia's 3-1 win against Belarus and also played the full 90 minutes of their stunning triumph over Spain, and Borek Dockal, a goalscorer in both of Czech Republic's victories this week over Turkey and Kazakhstan.

Up front, Robbie Keane became the all-time top scorer in European Championship qualification by netting a hat-trick for Ireland against Gibraltar while Kyle Lafferty helped neighbours Northern Ireland continue their impressive start by scoring in wins over the Faroe Islands and Greece.

Israel striker Omer Damari completes the trio after scoring one goal against Cyprus and a hat-trick against Andorra to help his country to another six points.

John O'Shea joins Ireland team-mate Keane in the XI after scoring a dramatic last-minute equaliser for Martin O'Neill's side against Germany.

Giorgio Chiellini's two goals against Azerbaijan earn him a place and Phil Jagielka, who scored against San Marino and helped England to two clean sheets, is also selected.

In goal, Northern Ireland's Roy Carroll kept two clean sheets and also saved a penalty against the Faroe Islands.