- Every major tournament sees a fresh crop of young talent burst onto the scene
- Euro 2024 will be no different and we have selected 10 to watch out for
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! It’s not a ‘free hit’ for Scotland… this German team is no juggernaut
When he selected Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton for Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate gave England a fresh outlook for the trip to Germany reaching beyond the teenage talent of Jude Bellingham, and there are more from the wonderkid bracket, all lightly capped and highly rated exciting youngsters hoping this will be a coming-of-age tournament.
Here, Mail Sport takes at closer look at some of the best youngsters, with players selected aged 21 or under with fewer than 10 caps…
10. Kacper Urbanski (Poland) age 19, two caps
The youngest Polish player in Serie A history made a late dash for the squad after helping Bologna to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Urbanski made his Poland debut against Ukraine, little more than a week before the start of Euro 2024.
He came on in the fourth minute when experienced forward Arkadiusz Milik suffered a knee injury which will rule him out of the tournament.
Has played mostly off the left for Bologna this season but is versatile and expected to mature into a central force.
9. Fermin Lopez (Spain) age 21, one cap
Another midfield gem from the Barcelona mould of Gavi and Pedri with two good feet, appreciation of those around him, and a desire to get forward and search for forward passes. Broke through with 11 goals in a sensational first La Liga season after spending 2022/23 on loan at Linares in the third tier. Seven of those goals have come in a flurry since mid-March, forcing him into contention for Euro 2024 despite Spain’s wealth of creative talent.
Made a dazzling international debut off the bench on June 5 albeit against minnows Andorra, and seems to be peaking at the right time for this tournament. Sure to be an important player from the bench for Luis de la Fuente and maybe something much more.
8. Warren Zaire-Emery (France) age 18, three caps, one goal
Dominating games from Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield before he was old enough to vote, Zaire-Emery has a glittering career ahead. His strength, temperament and maturity set him apart, as with Jude Bellingham. He is balanced with vision and technical quality on the ball.
The youngest in this very talented France squad, he must compete for a place in central midfield with some household names but that is not likely to faze him. The 18-year-old is trusted to inherit star billing at PSG with Kylian Mbappe departed for Real Madrid, together with Bradley Barcola (21) a £40million winger, signed from Lyon last summer. Zaire-Emery made his France debut in November against Gibraltar and scored within 17 minutes.
7. Matej Jurasek (Czech) age 20, two caps, one goal
The Czechs boast the youngest squad at Euro 2024 with an average age of 25.8 years and some of them are already well established, such as star striker Adam Hlozek of Bayer Leverkusen. Hlozek is only 21 and already has more than 30 caps.
Centre-half Martin Vitik is another at 21 with years of experience at his club Sparta Prague and now on the fringes of the national team and Jurasek is an exciting winger who has burst into contention at the end of this season thanks to his performances at Slavia Prague. Maybe his debut in March against Armenia and scored his first goal with the sixth in a 7-1 win against Malta in a warm-up friendly.
6. Arda Guler (Turkey) age 19, seven caps
Back from the injuries which have disrupted his first season at Real Madrid in time to give Turkey the creative spark they miss without him. Scored six in seven games at the end of Real’s La Liga season and issued a timely reminder of the playmaker they signed when they lured him from Fenerbahce in 2023. He is slight with a hint of Mesut Ozil about his effortless creative style on the ball.
Other Turks might catch the eye in Vincenzo Montella’s exciting squad, including Kenan Yildiz, a 19-year-old winger who joined Juventus from Bayern Munich in 2022 and is hailed as the next Alessandro del Piero, and Semih Kilicsoy, an 18-year-old forward who has stormed late into the squad with 11 goals for Besiktas in the season just ended. Kilicsoy made his debut for Turkey on June 4.
5. Luka Sucic (Croatia) age 21, seven caps
Heir apparent to his idol Luka Modric should Croatia’s midfield maestro ever reach retirement. Sucic was born in Austria, working his way through the ranks at Red Bull Salzburg since the age of 14. He is taller and more physically imposing than Modric. Athletic, with a good passing range and able to threaten goal and create around the fringes of the penalty area. Scored three goals with eight assists in 22 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga last season.
Made his senior international debut in October 2021 but it has proved difficult to break into an established midfield dominated by Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic. Was part of Zlatko Dalic’s World Cup squad in Qatar but did not play as Croatia finished third. Hit by an injury setback in March but fit again and will be used as part of the midfield rotation.
4. Zeno Debast (Belgium) age 20, eight caps
Central defender who is about to move from Anderlecht to Sporting for a fee which could reach close to £17million, despite reported interest from West Ham and Newcastle. Debast started his career midfield and was nurtured in his new role by Vincent Kompany during his day as Anderlecht boss.
This may explain Debast’s comfort in possession. Most often deployed on the right side of a back three by club and country he has almost 100 senior appearances under his belt. Probably more likely to see action at Euro 2024 than other Belgian prodigies such as midfielder Arthur Vermeeren (19) whose progress has stalled since a £19.5m move from Antwerp to Atletico Madrid in January.
3. Joao Neves (Portugal) age 19, seven caps
The latest graduate from Benfica’s prolific academy, making 55 appearances in all competitions last season and attracting interest from big clubs including Manchester United, in January. He is mostly deployed as a deep midfielder. Compact and robust with a low centre of gravity, he can accpt the ball early and move off either foot. He retains possession and can see a pass.
Without the ball, he has strength and aggression, has bite in the tackle and is programmed to press with intensity by Benfica boss Roger Schmidt. Made his Portugal debut in October. Has played in all but one since and started in the last two warm-up friendlies.
2. Max Beier (Germany) age 21, one cap
Hoffenheim forward with 16 Bundesliga goals this season could emerge as the answer to Germany’s long quest for a reliable goal source. Beier is nimble and industrious. An elusive forward likened to Thomas Muller with an instinct in front of goal. He joined Hoffenheim from Energie Cottbus at the age of 15 and made his Bundesliga debut at 17 before two years on loan at Hannover.
Only four players scored more than him in Germany’s top-flight in 2023/24. Called up by Julian Nagelsmann in March and won his first cap against Ukraine on June 4. Older than Germany’s whizz kids Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala but less experienced at this level.
1. Lamine Yamal (Spain) age 16, seven caps, two goals
European football’s most precocious. Destined to become the youngest player in the history of Euros finals when he appears for Spain, probably against Croatia on Saturday. Yamal is only 16, but has spent the entire season in Barcelona’s team, scoring five goals in 37 La Liga games and making his Champions League debut.
The winger won his first senior cap for Spain in March. Predominantly left-footed he is most comfortable playing off the right flank and darting inside.
He is quick and quite exceptional on the ball and yet it is his maturity, awareness of others and decision making which stands him out.
Scored against Georgia on his international debut in September to become Spain’s youngest ever player and scorer at 16 years and 57 days.