da pinnacle： There are plenty were plenty of star performers over the past two weeks in Germany – but who makes our combined XI?

da bet vitoria： The Euro 2024 group stage was a tense affair. Free-flowing football was in short-supply, with tense tactical battles far more frequent than end-to-end thrillers, but there was still no shortage of drama – and own goals!

After 36 gruelling matches and seemingly never-ending permutations, eight teams have been sent packing, including 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, while the Netherlands, Georgia, Slovakia and Slovenia have qualified for the knockout stage as the four best third-placed teams. There are plenty of fans who miss the greater jeopardy of the old 16-team format, but there was still a real competitive edge to every game, and the tournament has been lit up by a number of high-quality individual performances.

That's in spite of the fact that many of the pre-tournament favourites have struggled to find their rhythm, including England and France. Spain and Germany are the only big-guns purring at the moment, while the likes of Austria and Georgia have emerged as dark horses.

The question is, which players have stood out the most so far? GOAL has compiled the best of them for our Team of the Group Stage, which includes a goalkeeper who has picked up from where he left off at Euro 2020…

GettyGK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Donnarumma was Italy's talisman during their run to the title three years ago, and although the Azzurri are not quite as strong collectively this time around, he is once again rising to the occasion. The Paris Saint-Germain No.1's brilliant late stop to deny Rey Manaj ensured Italy scraped past Albania, and he also made a vital contribution in their final group outing against Croatia.

He made three key saves and kept out a Luka Modric penalty before Mattia Zaccagni scored a last-gasp equaliser to earn Italy the 1-1 draw that sealed their place in the last 16. The prospect of Italy reaching another final seems unlikely given their lack of strength in depth, but with Donnarumma serving as the last line of defence they cannot be written off.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Dani Carvajal (Spain)

Fresh from landing his sixth Champions League crown at Real Madrid, Carvajal has helped provide the base for Spain's impressive start to the Euros. The 32-year-old racked up 12 ball recoveries across Spain's wins over Croatia and Italy, while also chipping in with a goal, and has led by example with his outstanding work-rate.

Carvajal is one of the best right-backs in the game because he always delivers on the grandest stage, and his experience will be vital as La Roja bid to win back the trophy they took possession of between 2008 and 2012. Spain have a host of more flashy players who will inevitably steal the spotlight, but Carvajal is their general.

Getty CB: Marc Guehi (England)

To say that England have failed to live up to expectations at Euro 2024 would be a massive understatement. Watching Gareth Southgate's side negotiate their way through Group C was a painful experience, with Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice among those to underperform in spectacular fashion after stellar seasons for their clubs.

But Guehi can arrive in the last 16 with his head held high. England only ended up winning the group because the Crystal Palace man was so solid at the back, bringing much-needed composure and steel to a team desperately short on confidence. The Three Lions will have to improve significantly to end almost 60 years of hurt, but in Guehi they do at least have one player who looks up for the challenge.

GettyCB: Riccardo Calafiori (Italy)

Calafiori has had quite a year. The 22-year-old defender was colossal during Bologna's fairy-tale run to secure Champions League qualification in Serie A, which earned him a place in Italy's European Championship squad.

He could hardly made a better first impression either, as he drove out of defence at every opportunity against Albania, and although an unfortunate own goal ended up condemning Italy to a subsequent loss to Spain, he's shown real character to bounce back. It was Calafiori who provided the assist for Zaccagni's equaliser against Croatia, to cap a stellar all-round display, but he also picked up a booking, and will be a huge miss for Luciano Spalletti's side as he serves a suspension in the last 16.