Elsewhere, Germany have three representatives in Jerome Boateng, Toni Kroos and youngster Joshua Kimmich, who did a tremendous job as a makeshift right-back.
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Allen’s inclusion came as something of a surprise, but is fitting reward for a sequence of excellent displays.
The team was selected by a 13-strong panel including former Manchester United managers Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, Savo Milosevic, Gareth Southgate and Thomas Schaaf. With four assists and one goal to his name, he was actually involved in more goals for Wales then Bale was – and the Arsenal man’s absence in the semi-final against Portugal was arguably the biggest factor in Wales reaching the Paris final. Your support in the stadiums could be heard and seen and we could also feel the great backing of the people in the whole of Germany.
Liverpool’s own cult hero, Joe Allen, was bestowed the honor of making the Best XI for Euro 2016 after Wales’s remarkable run to the semifinals of the competition.
Bale was not selected despite his three goals, scoring from free-kicks in Wales’ opening two games. “A bit later down the line I’ll be proud”, he said of his achievement of being the tournament’s top scorer.
The technical observers made their decision by pinpointing the player who shone brightest individually and as part of his team, and whose overall contribution had a major impact on his sides performances.
While Wales’ attacking talents such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey grabbed most of the headlines, Allen’s nuanced performances in the middle of the park helped fuel their success.
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Zoltan Gera is now leading the public poll for goal of the tournament for his strike against eventual winners Portugal, with Hal Robson-Kanu winning the BBC award.
