Castrol answer your Index questions

Throughout UEFA EURO 2012, the Castrol EDGE Index has analysed every player to bring you a list of the tournament's top performers but how does the Index work? Why are certain players ranked higher than others? Find the answers to your questions below.

@forzajuve212: Why isn't Andrea Pirlo number one? He was better than Cristiano Ronaldo and excelled against England and Germany.

Castrol: His performances in the quarter-final and semi-final were impressive – we have him as the top-rated player in both matches. However, during the group stage we did not rate him as highly, because he only received an average rating in each game.

His passing is the thing that set him apart in the knockout rounds. During the group stage we considered his passing to have had an average or below average attacking impact, whereas in the knockout matches he has been well above average and did some good defensive work blocking shots.

It would also be possible for him to have a better Index placing if he had more high-value shots at goal. Compared to midfielders in the top ten he is lacking in that department. If Pirlo had performed at the same level in the group stage as he has during the knockout stage then he would be in the top ten.

@Mandzo_Jelavic: What can you tell me about Mario Mandžukić and Nikica Jelavić's ranking?

Castrol: Mandžukić is ranked 60th in the Index and is the No1 Croatian player, both in terms of average contribution per minute and total contribution. The biggest proportion of his points come from scoring/shooting – he scored three goals in the group stage and had one more shot on target. He has also gained some points from blocking opposition shots in the second group match. However, he lost a lot of points because of below average passing (51/97 completed passes = 53%).

Jelavić is 127th in the Index, but he could have been higher if he had played more than 180 minutes. His points come solely from scoring/shooting, with one goal in the first group match and two shots on target in the second. In terms of overall contribution, he is 9th in the Croatia team, but if we take into account time played he is second after Mandžukić.

UEFA.com: Which player has scored the most points in a game and why?

Castrol: The most points in a single game so far were achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo, in Portugal's group match against the Netherlands. The points came from his two goals and three shots on target. In this game Ronaldo gained more points than he did in the first two group matches combined.

UEFA.com: Which players can still top the Index?

Castrol: The short answer to this question is that it will either be Ronaldo or one of the players who compete in the final. The way that the Index is calculated means that an amazing performance from Antonio Cassano could mean he tops the Index, or the performance of a lifetime from Thiago Motta could help him finish in first place.

If we concentrate on players who have a good chance of finishing top, it gets more interesting. Ronaldo could finish top, but this is unlikely given that he will not be in the final. Who then has a realistic chance? We'd say it is probably going to be between Gerard Piqué, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, Mario Balotelli, Claudio Marchisio and Sergio Ramos.