U21 all-star squad named by UEFA technical team

Seven players from UEFA European Under-21 Championship winners Spain feature in the all-star squad named by the UEFA technical team following Saturday's conclusion to the tournament in Denmark.

While Spain's Aarhus triumph is reflected in the all-star selection, all eight competing nations are represented in the 23-man squad, based on performances throughout the fortnight of action on the Jutland peninsula.

The technical team made its pick of the championship's outstanding players by nominating three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six attackers.

The two Spanish goalscorers in their 2-0 final victory over Switzerland, Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcántara, are notable inclusions, together with five-goal Adrián López – the adidas Golden Boot award winner – captain Javi Martínez, goalkeeper David de Gea, defender Dídac Vila and attacker Juan Mata, who was awarded the Bronze Boot.

Runner-up Switzerland's contribution to a successful competition is recognised by the choice of five players. Admir Mehmedi was the three-goal Silver Boot winner and he figures alongside skipper Yann Sommer – who had not conceded a goal until the final – defenders Timm Klose and Jonathan Rossini, and fellow attacker Xherdan Shaqiri.

The list also contains three players from semi-finalists the Czech Republic – Tomáš Vaclík, Ondřej Čelůstka and Marcel Gecov – as well as Mikhail Sivakov from the Belarus side that lost in the last four but went on to beat the Czechs in the Olympic play-off.

Each of the four teams eliminated at the group stage have players in the all-star lineup: Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker and Daniel Sturridge (England), Nicolai Boilesen and Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (Iceland) and Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Ukraine).

All-Star Squad – Denmark 2011
 Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Spain), Yann Sommer (Switzerland), Tomáš Vaclík (Czech Republic).

Defenders: Nicolai Boilesen (Denmark), Ondřej Čelůstka (Czech Republic), Dídac Vila (Spain), Timm Klose (Switzerland), Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Ukraine), Jonathan Rossini (Switzerland), Chris Smalling (England), Kyle Walker (England).

Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Marcel Gecov (Czech Republic), Ander Herrera (Spain), Javi Martínez (Spain), Mikhail Sivakov (Belarus), Thiago Alcántara (Spain).

Forwards: Adrián López (Spain), Juan Mata (Spain), Admir Mehmedi (Switzerland), Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (Iceland), Daniel Sturridge (England).