AI bot ChatGPT has named its ultimate Euros line-up – but football fans will be shocked by some very controversial omissions.
MailOnline asked for the ‘best Euros squad of all time’ made of 11 players who have starred in at least one UEFA European Championship since the first in 1960.
But shockingly, the AI tool did not name a single British player – not even on the subs bench.
This is despite famous Euro performances in the past from the likes of Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Gareth Bale.
Among the stars included are German legend Franz Beckenbauer, France‘s Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, considered one of the greatest players of all time.
MailOnline asked ChatGPT to name its ultimate Euros line-up – and it didn’t name a single British player, not even on the subs bench
OpenAI’s free tool ChatGPT has been trained on troves of data to interact with human users conversationally.
The chatbot is able to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response – and often feels like talking to a real person.
With Euro 2024 in full flow in Germany, here’s a look at ChatGPT‘s ultimate Euro line-up, which forms a 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper – Iker Casillas (Spain)
2 Euro titles
In fairness to ChatGPT, Iker Casillas is considered one of the greatest keepers in football and won two Euros with Spain – in 2008 and 2012.
In 2008, Casillas kept clean sheets in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, when Spain beat Germany in a narrow 1-0 win.
Four years later, he kept an impressive five clean sheets at Euro 2012, including in the final – a stunning 4-0 thrashing of the Italians.
ChatGPT said Casillas is ‘known for his calm demeanor and tactical acumen, leading Spain through their golden era’, as well as ‘incredible reflexes, leadership, and crucial saves’.
Iker Casillas holds up the Euro 2008 championships trophy after winning the final football match over Germany on June 29, 2008 at Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria
Right back – Philipp Lahm (Germany)
1 Euro title
Germany’s Philipp Lahm did not ever win the Euros, although he won a runner-up medal at 2008 as Spain emerged victorious.
But ChatGPT called him a ‘versatile and consistent performer’ for his country and ‘widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the history of football’.
As Germany captain at Euro 2012, he scored a spectacular goal against Greece in the quarter finals from about 25 yards out.
However, six days later Lahm and co were beaten by Italy in the semis.
Philipp Lahm of Germany runs with the ball during the UEFA Euro 2004, Group D match between Germany and Holland at the Drago Stadium on June 15, 2004
Centre back – Franco Baresi (Italy)
0 Euro titles
Going a bit further back in Euros history, ChatGPT picked out Franco Baresi to star in one of the centre back spots.
Baresi was part of the Italian squad at two UEFA European Championships, in 1980 and 1988 – although he didn’t actually play at Euro 1980.
At both of these tournaments, the Blues (‘Gli Azzurri’) reached the final four, just falling at the final hurdle before the final.
Nevertheless, ChatGPT called him an ‘integral part of Italy’s defense, renowned for his tactical intelligence and leadership’.
Baresi was part of the Italian squad at two UEFA European Championships, in 1980 and 1988 (pictured)
Centre back – Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
1 Euro title
Also considered one of football’s all-time greats is Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer – the only defender in football history to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or twice.
He’s fondly remembered as one of England’s greatest adversaries and is famous for his match-up against Bobby Charlton in the 1966 World Cup final.
But although Beckenbauer missed out on the Jules Rimet trophy to Alf Ramsey’s boys in that match, six years later he led Germany to Euros glory.
ChatGPT said he’s known for his elegance, control and defensive prowess at central defence, as well as pioneering the ‘sweeper’ or ‘libero’.
This is where a defender plays slightly further back to ‘sweep up’ the ball in case an attacker gets past the other defenders.
The decorated German player Franz Beckenbauer is one of nine men to have won the World Cup, the European Cup and the Ballon d’Or (pictured vs England in 1970)
Left back – Paolo Maldini (Italy)
0 Euro titles
Just like his Italian predecessor Baresi, left back Paolo Maldini never won a Euro title, but ChatGPT hailed his ‘incredible longevity and consistent performances’.
As a 19-year-old, Maldini was part of Italy’s squad for Euro 1988 in West Germany, but 12 years later he captained his country at Euro 2000.
Italy reached the final that year but were narrowly beaten by champions France, who scored a ‘golden goal’ in the 103rd minute to win 2-1.
Regarded as one of the best left backs of all time, Paolo Maldini was part of an Italy Euros squad in 1988 and 2000
Central midfield – Xavi Hernandez (Spain)
2 Euro titles
Like goalkeeper Casillas, midfielder Xavi Hernandez was part of the same Spanish squad that dominated international football just over a decade ago.
ChatGPT said he ‘orchestrated’ Spain’s midfield during their Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 triumphs and was ‘renowned for his passing accuracy and vision’.
‘Xavi was pivotal in Spain’s midfield, playing a crucial role in their possession-based, tiki-taka style of play,’ the chatbot added.
At Euro 2008, he scored the opening goal of Spain’s semi-final against Russia and was named player of the tournament.
Xavi Hernandez plays for Spain during a Euro 2008 qualifying match against Northern Ireland, September 2006
Central midfield – Michel Platini (France)
1 Euro title
ChatGPT called Michel Platini the star of Euro 1984, where he scored an incredible nine goals to lead France to victory.
No other player has scored as many goals at a single Euros tournament, with Frenchman Antoine Griezmann’s six coming the closest in 2016.
The bot called Platini ‘one of football’s most iconic figures’, known for ‘his creative playmaking and goal-scoring ability from midfield’.
Platini won the Ballon d’Or three times in a row and after retirement was president of UEFA between 2007 and 2015.
No other player has scored as many goals at a single Euros tournament as France’s Michel Platini at Euro 1984 (pictured)
Central midfield – Zinedine Zidane (France)
1 Euro title
If any player best represents France’s glory days around the turn of the Millennium, it’s the legend that is Zinedine Zidane.
Two years after winning the World Cup on home soil in 1998, France won all but one of their matches at Euro 2000 to secure glory.
Zidane was named player of the tournament, having scored two goals, including a golden goal penalty in the semi-final against Portugal.
However, the Frenchman’s global reputation took a terrible nosedive in 2006 when he headbutted an Italian player in the World Cup final – his last ever match.
Even so, the chatbot said he’s still celebrated as a player for ‘his skill, balance, and ability to control games’.
Zinedine Zidane is pictured here during the UEFA Euro 1996 Group B match between Romania and France at St James’ Park on June 10, 1996
Zinedine Zidane famously headbutted Maeco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, the Frenchman’s last match as a player
Right wing – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
1 Euro title
Along with Lionel Messi he’s considered the greatest footballer alive today, so it’s no surprise there’s room for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo on the right wing.
ChatGPT said Ronaldo is ‘known for his goal-scoring prowess and physical attributes’ and ‘performed consistently in multiple tournaments’.
As captain, he led Portugal to glory at Euro 2016 having scored five goals, including one against Wales in a memorable semi-final.
As captain, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to glory at Euro 2016 – the country’s first major trophy
Although it was thanks to changes made by UEFA that year to the competition format that Portugal managed to get out of their group at all.
Both Hungary and minnows Iceland finished the group stage with five points in Group F that year – ahead of Portugal’s three points.
Center forward – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
1 Euro title
Forward Marco van Basten played a huge role in winning what is still the Netherlands’ only major trophy, at Euro 1988.
He scored five goals at that tournament, including a hattrick against England in one of the group stage matches at the expense of the great Peter Shilton.
Dutch footballer Marco van Basten jumps above Germany footballer Jurgen Kohler during the UEFA Euro 1988 semifinal match between West Germany and the Netherlands
ChatGPT said van Basten was known for his ‘elegance’, ‘technical skill’ and ‘clinical finishing’ and is still considered ‘one of the greatest strikers in football history’.
He played his last match in 1993, at the age of 28, due to an ankle injury which forced him to announce his retirement two years later.
Left wing – Thierry Henry (France)
1 Euro title
Still a favourite in the red area of north London, the great Thierry Henry is ‘renowned for his speed, skill, and goal-scoring ability’, ChatGPT said.
The Frenchman scored three goals at Euro 2000, including a typically casual deft finish against Denmark in the group stage.
Thierry Henry of France running during the UEFA Euro 2000 Group D match between Czech Republic and France at Jan Breydelstadion on June 16, 2000
He was named in the ‘team of the tournament’ by UEFA, along with six other Frenchman, including Zidane, Fabien Barthez and Patrick Vieira.
ChatGPT said: ‘Henry was a prolific goal-scorer, known for his precision and calmness in front of goal.
‘His contributions to football have left an indelible mark on the sport, and he continues to influence the game as a pundit and coach.’
Manager – Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
1 Euro title (as manager)
No ultimate football line-up is complete without a manager, and it’s little surprise ChatGPT has opted for Spain’s Vicente del Bosque.
He managed his country to victory at Euro 2012, having appeared for Spain as a player at Euro 1980 in Italy.
Vicente del Bosque of Spain celebrates victory after the Euro 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine
The bot said: ‘Del Bosque is praised for maintaining team harmony and effectively integrating new players into an already successful squad.’
Along with Helmut Schön of Germany, del Bosque is the only manager to have won both the Euros and the World Cup.
Overall, the bot claims this hypothetical dream squad has ‘a mix of players from different eras’, each making ‘significant contributions’ to the UEFA European Championship.
It said: ‘The blend of defensive solidity, midfield creativity, and attacking prowess makes this an all-time great team.’
