As we approach the 2016 European Championship, Bleacher Report will review and rate the top 200 players of these tournaments, according to their positions. The first review will cover the goalkeeper position, which is undoubtedly one of the most important in football, and in this championship, there will be no shortage of standout stars in this position. The rating is composed of two categories: one based on game reading (positioning, leading defenders, catching the ball, and avoiding mistakes), and the other based on shot-stopping (reactions, diving, reflexes, and saving their own goal). Each player in each of these categories can receive a maximum of 50 points, and combining the points obtained in both categories, the European Championship goalkeepers ranking was arranged. In the first part of this review, we present the goalkeepers who remain in positions 11-20. 20. Yann Sommer - Switzerland Game Reading: 30/50 "Gladbach" in the summer of 2014 for £7 million already knew when they acquired Sommer from "Basel" that he could successfully replace Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and they were not wrong. The Swiss goalkeeper has already justified all expectations and contributed significantly to the successful play of his team in the Bundesliga, where his team secured a place in the Champions League next year. This success was certainly also influenced by Sommer's constant work in leading his defense - there were no matches where the 27-year-old player forgot to constantly direct his defenders. Shot-stopping: 34/50 Sommer is a quick goalkeeper. When shots fly towards his goal, he almost always manages to position himself correctly and react to them. With increasing experience, the former "Basel" player is getting better - now he not only relies on his athleticism and reflexes but also increasingly successfully uses his intuition in his work. Overall rating: 64/100 The Bundesliga has always been famous for excellent goalkeepers, and Sommer is on the right track to become one of them. A little overlooked in this position, "Gladbach" goalkeeper has serious competition for the number one position in the national team from Roman Burki and Marwin Hitz, but he should inherit the position of Diego Benaglio in the long run and wear the gloves. 19. Danijel Subasic - Croatia Game Reading: 30/50 Subasic is one of the most underrated goalkeepers. The 31-year-old player has played in three countries during his career and has played 317 matches. Since 2009, when he entered the Croatian national team, he was long in the shadow of Stipe Pletikosa, but after his retirement from the national team, he became the main goalkeeper of the team. The Croat is certainly not the world's best goalkeeper - he lacks the skills of leading the defense, ball control, and sometimes even concentration, but a country like Croatia could hardly find a better goalkeeper. Shot-stopping: 34/50 Subasic is much better in shot-stopping than he is in his penalty box management. The main goalkeeper of "Monaco" kept his goal dry 12 times this season, which helped his team qualify for the Champions League next year. A good reaction, intuition, and agility help him become a valuable asset to his team. Overall rating: 64/100 Playing in the same group as Spain, Czech Republic, and Turkey, Croatia should reach the next stage of the tournament. With an average attack and top-level goalkeeper, the performance of the Croats could hinge on the defensive line and the goalkeeper. If Subasic and other players from these lines have an excellent tournament, the Croats can at least reach the quarterfinals of this championship. 18. Igor Akinfeev - Russia Game Reading: 33/50 The Russian Premier League is often underrated, but it also has really good players. Akinfeev, although not a world-class goalkeeper, is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in his position in Russia. Spending his entire career in the "CSKA" team, the Russian has been the undisputed leader in the goal for almost a decade. His experience and calmness are reflected in almost all categories, except for ball control. Despite being the player who has kept his goal "dry" the most times in the history of the Russian championship, he is primarily remembered by football fans for his glaring errors against Algeria and South Korea at the 2014 World Cup. Shot-stopping: 32/50 Judging a player solely on his worst performance would be unfair. The 30-year-old is doing well with shots, and this he has proved for many years in both local and European tournaments. Akinfeev plays very successfully both near the goal and far from it, and if he were a bit taller, he would undoubtedly attract more attention from the strongest European clubs. Overall rating: 65/100 Akinfeev faces a tough tournament. He didn't succeed in the last championship, and the second goalkeeper of the Russian national team Yury Lodygin had a good season at "Zenit" and will offer serious competition. However, if Akinfeev maintains the form he has demonstrated in the national championship, he should not lose his place in the Russian national team. 17. Wojciech Szczesny - Poland Game Reading: 30/50 In a perfect world, Szczesny would still be at Arsenal. However, Chelsea decided to sell Petr Cech to another London team, and the Pole was forced to continue his career at another club. One of the main reasons for the change of clubs for the goalkeeper was his poor performance in the penalty area. The 26-year-old goalkeeper often found himself in poor positions, costing his team goals. Nevertheless, this did not stop Roma from renting this goalkeeper for the season, who, it must be admitted, has really improved through it. Could the slower pace of Serie A provide him with more time to make the right decisions? Perhaps, however, progress remains progress, no matter how it is achieved. Shot-stopping: 36/50 Acknowledging Szczesny's mistakes in choosing a position, one should not underestimate his ability to stop shots. Being 196 cm tall and very agile, using his good reflexes, reactions, and height, he often managed to correct problems caused by being in the wrong position. If we added the ability to read the game to his natural talent, he could become an amazing goalkeeper. However, he rarely shows these components of the game together. Overall rating: 66/100 Poland is one of the dark horses of this championship. Just Robert Lewandowski makes them dangerous, but without good Szczesny's performance, they can hardly expect success. 16. Anthony Lopes - Portugal Game Reading: 30/50 Lopes became the main goalkeeper of Lyon only at the end of the 2012-2013 season. However, from that moment, the 25-year-old player did not give up his position as the main goalkeeper of the team. Although he is a member of the Portuguese national team, Lopes was born, raised, and plays in France. Measuring just 184 cm, Lopes is determined to come out of the goal and aggressively meet any dangerous attack. When it works, it looks amazing, but when it fails, it usually ends in goals conceded. Shot-stopping: 36/50 The goalkeeper compensates for his height, speed, and quick reflexes. Lopes also has a good jump, which is necessary to cover the gate areas as successfully as taller goalkeepers. Overall rating: 66/100 The 25-year-old goalkeeper will most likely have to settle for the role of the second goalkeeper in this championship. Although the player can still receive his chance now, it is more realistic that he will become the main goalkeeper already in the 2018 World Cup. 15. Simon Mignolet - Belgium Game Reading: 33/50 At one point, it seemed that Mignolet would be the long-term first-choice goalkeeper for the Belgian national team. In the 2009-2010 season, after winning the Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year title, he enjoyed such success only until the rise of Thibaut Courtois. Looking from the perspective of the Belgian national team - they should be happy about it. Even after three seasons with Sunderland and over 140 matches played after moving to Liverpool, Mignolet's feel does not quite solid in the penalty area. He often fails to catch the ball, misjudges diagonally flying balls into the penalty area, and causes unnecessary problems. Although he improved his footwork under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, it is not enough to hide his flaws in aerial play. Shot-stopping: 37/50 Mignolet's biggest plus - his excellent reflexes. He quickly assesses shots and usually positions himself correctly to stop them. Strangely, it seems that "Liverpool" goalkeeper is best at stopping shots when he needs to react quickly. Distant shots posed by his opponents sometimes are even more dangerous than those made from close range. Overall rating: 70/100 Belgium has always had problems with goalkeepers, but this championship could be an exception. Forster will be Joe Hart's backup, but if Roy Hodgson needs him, the team will be in safe hands. 14. Fraser Forster - England Game Reading: 35/50 Returning after a serious knee injury suffered in January, Forster would probably not have become the second goalkeeper for the England national team. However, Jack Butland's injury wide opened the door for him to take on this role. In 18 matches for Southampton, Forster conceded just 17 goals, keeping a clean sheet six times without conceding a single accurate shot in the opponent's goal. The 201 cm giant is the owner of his penalty area and shows it by catching all high balls and clearly instructing his teammates. Shot-stopping: 35/50 As a player of such a large height, Forster moves fast enough. He can change his position quickly, just like any other player of lower height in his position. He responds quickly in situations where he needs to come out of the goal, and during his reign over the vast part of the goal, it becomes very difficult for players to score against him. Overall rating: 70/100 England has always had problems with goalkeepers, but this championship could be an exception. Forster will be Joe Hart's backup, but if Roy Hodgson needs him, the team will be in safe hands. 13. Rui Patricio - Portugal Game Reading: 36/50 Throughout his career, Patricio has been a reliable goalkeeper. The Portuguese was one of the best players in his position in the local leagues this season. His leadership qualities in the penalty area and proper guidance to younger players make him even more valuable to his national team. However, the 28-year-old player faces one drawback throughout his career - passing the ball. Sharing the ball with teammates is the only flaw that can be clearly distinguished in his game. Shot-stopping: 35/50 The Portuguese national team member does well in stopping shots. He is not the fastest goalkeeper but usually occupies a good position to cover the goal. When most goalkeepers often rush out of the goal, the "Sporting" goalkeeper shows patience. This often forces players to be predictable, and their shots end up being easy prey for the goalkeeper. Overall rating: 71/100 Although Patricio will have serious competition from Anthony Lopes, there is almost no doubt that he will be the main goalkeeper of the Portugal national team. While many question whether he is a goalkeeper of a high enough caliber to lead the team into the most important battles for the trophy, there is almost no doubt that Patricio will do the job that is expected of him by the national team coach. 12. Marc-Andre ter Stegen - Germany Game Reading: 39/50 Ter Stegen can hardly be satisfied with the role he receives at Barcelona. Assigned as the goalkeeper for cup competitions, the German national team player often does not play as well as he can. In the Champions League, he proved his ability to lead the defense, catch high balls, and play a game based on ball control, and he has also demonstrated these abilities multiple times during his three seasons at Gladbach. Having not played in La Liga for even ten matches, the 24-year-old goalkeeper has more than once been linked with a move to Premier League clubs, and Barcelona's unwillingness to make him the first-choice goalkeeper in La Liga may force him to change his current career station. Shot-stopping: 39/50 Although not the tallest goalkeeper, the German effectively uses his body. Rising quickly from the ground and aggressively catching high balls, the goalkeeper also boasts good speed, agility, and quick reactions. He is still quite young and still learns the patient game, but despite the limited opportunities at Barcelona, he shows his improvement. Ter Stegen stops the shots that he must stop, and sometimes he even saves ones that should end in goals. Overall rating: 78/100 As one of the four best German goalkeepers, it seems that Ter Stegen will have to demand the role of the main goalkeeper in a Catalan team, or find a new home. Kevin Trapp and Bernd Leno constantly compete, and this allows them to improve faster than the Barcelona representative. If Ter Stegen continues not to play in the league, he may never become the first-choice goalkeeper for the German national team, a scenario that just three years ago no one could have imagined. 11. Salvatore Sirigu - Italy Game Reading: 40/50 This season has not been easy for Salvatore Sirigu. Losing his place to Kevin Trapp, Italy's second goalkeeper was just a spectator. The 29-year-old goalkeeper, playing just 12 matches throughout the season, should look for another team if the situation does not change, and his search should not be difficult. Twice named the "Ligue 1" goalkeeper of the year, Sirigu is an experienced and reliable player who can still play at the top level for a decade. Shot-stopping: 40/50 The Italian goalkeeper is perfect for his position with his physique, height, and athleticism. Sirigu is tall enough to guard the goal and fast enough, agile, and of quick reaction to stop shots. Overall rating: 80/100 If after the inevitable departure of Buffon from the national team, this position is not entrusted to one of the talented young players, Sirigu should at least temporarily take over the main goalkeeper position for Italy. His presence on the bench and being always ready already taught him the role during this season, taking on such a role at PSG.
