We all know that statistics mean next to nothing in football, but that doesn't stop us obsessing over them anyway. But Sky Sports' best of British and Irish at Euro 2016 team really demonstrates just why we shouldn't get bogged down on this pointless statistics.
Not a single member of the Republic of Ireland squad who can hold their heads up high after a gallant effort at the tournament, reaching the last 16 and bowing out to potential finalists and host nation France, made the 'British and Irish XI' of the tournament. While individually we don't have many superstars, but Robbie Brady must be wondering why he didn't feature - and Jeff Hendrick has a major case as well.
The omission of Ireland's standout performers becomes even more comical when you look at the players who statistically merited a place on the team. Based on stats from the popular website Whoscored.com, the XI Features no less than 4 English players, yes you heard that right, 4.
England's tournament can only be described as utterly shambolic, with hapless draws with Russia and Slovakia - and eventually exiting to tournament minnows Iceland in the round of 16.
While Wales admittedly deserve the 4 places on the team, with Bale, Ramsey, Davies and Chester representing the beaten semi-finalists. Although Chris Gunter and Ashley Williams might be aggrieved to miss out. 3 of the Northern Irish heroes were also included in the tournament.
But the inclusion of Kyle Walker and Daniel Sturridge is baffling, considering neither one of them deal anything to deserve a place in the tournament. Only Eric Dier really deserves his place on the team.
It really just shows that statistics mean quite literally zilch, and you should probably stop judging players based on their whoscored.com statistics.
