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The much anticipated UEFA European Championships is now here at long last. The Germany held tournament bodes to be one of the most exciting in recent times considering the calibre and quality of players on offer.
Veterans nearing the twilight of their careers, European footballers in their prime and quite importantly the younger generation looking to make a name for themselves on this elite stage.
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Here are the top rated youngsters expected to take the tournament by storm.
Florian Wirtz – Germany.
Wirtz comes on the back of a very impressive season with Bayer 04 Leverkusen winning both the domestic league and cup titles.
Wirtz broke into the senior set-up on Kai Havertz departure and has since cemented a spot for himself.
Fighting back from a long term injury, he’s more than upped the levels and carted away the 23/24 Bundesliga player of the season.
Julian Nagelsmann has found him trustworthy enough, giving the reins either side of Ilkay Gundogan to he and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala.
Euro 2024 presents a chance to cap off a very impressive 23/24 season for the young midfielder.
Benjamin Sesko – Slovenia.
The former RB Salzburg product has put pen to paper for a new long term deal at sister-club RB Leipzig.
With the club drama now out of the way, Sesko is tasked with leading Slovenia’s offense out of a tricky group in the European Championships.
The forward put the ball in the back of the net on 14 occasions in just 17 starts and averaged a minute per goal ratio of 109 in the 23/24 league campaign.
Despite the return of Josip Ilicic to the senior fold, the marksman would be the nation’s most important player.
Kobbie Mainoo – England.
Regarded as the modern day Clarence Seedorf, the Manchester United player properly announced himself to the footballing world this campaign.
Calm, collected and a forward thinker on the ball, he’s surely the one the Red Devils build their midfield around on the long-run.
The quality he has to offer is not a question but rather if he’ll commander a starting spot in the base of England’s midfield alongside Declan Rice at the expense of Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton and even the more appealing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Lamine Yamal – Spain.
The latest La Masia product to enter Barcelona’s senior fray and put up more than inspiring performances.
His brilliance over the last campaign forced Brazilian winger out to the left wing.
The 16-year-old who still takes assignment and classes at the tournament has broken all sorts of age-related records and will undoubtedly continue when he takes up to the pitch in Germany.
Yamal has cemented the right side of La Furia Roja’s front three with Nico Williams on the other flank and Alvaro Morata through the middle.
Xavi Simons – Netherlands.
The former La Masia product has enjoyed blistering seasons across his time in the Netherlands and Germany over the last two years.
Despite no inclinations as to what will happen over the summer with club football, his call up with the Oranje heaves a sigh of relief.
Another rousing display at this tournament will likely determine his 24/25 campaign. With the array of forwards in the Dutch national team, he still looks set to take up a starting shirt.
Warren Zaïre-Emery – France.
Paris Saint-Germain didn’t look reluctant to let go of long-serving Marco Verrati. Owing nonetheless to the brilliance of home grown talent Zaïre-Emery.
Over the last campaign, he was one of Luis Enrique’s trusted deputies in the middle of the park.
In similar fashion to Mainoo, he’ll find it difficult to command a starting shirt with the calibre of midfielders in the Les Blèus squad.
However, he boasts a profile differing to any other in the squad. A pocket player who can pick the locks in and out of low-blocks.
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