Ten Players That Could Light Up The European Under 21 Championship

Ten Players That Could Light Up The European Under 21 Championship
15:07, 16 Jun 2017

Many players make a name for themselves within international youth tournaments, with the Under-21 European Championship no different. It is a stepping stone to allow players to be noticed, or to use as a yard-stick to test a known youngsters’ ability against others. 

The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro, Juan Mata and Thiago Alcantara have been named as Golden Boys in the past, but who are a few left-field options that could create a reputation for themselves in Poland this month?

Goncalo Guedes - Portugal - ST -  PSG - 20

A 28-million-euro fee was handed over to Benfica by Paris Saint-Germain in January 2017, with the young Portuguese striker yet to make his mark on Unai Emery’s first team in the French capital. In Ligue 1, he made just one start last season, after arriving off the back of scoring two Champions League goals in six European appearances for the Eagles.

Back at home, he has been branded with the unenviable ‘new Ronaldo’ tag, which might prove to be an expectation that he will never truly hit. The parallels were drawn after his made his debut with the Selecao’s senior side at the tender age of just 18. Two years later, he is looking to use the under-21 Euros as a stepping stone to a strong 2017/2018 season.

Karol Linetty - Poland - CM - Sampdoria - 22

The Sampdoria midfielder is one of the most-capped players at the tournament in his native country, having represented his nation 15 times at senior level. Linetty arrives after a combative Serie A campaign, where his tenacious approach in the centre of the park posted up some tackling statistics that may have surprised many.

Twenty seven top-flight starts last season have stood Linetty in good stead to be a reliable part of the hosts’ spine, with it unlikely that the 22-year-old will play too much of an adventurous role creatively. He will look to break up play and keep possession moving, taking the defensive burden off those around him.

Andrija Zivkovic - Serbia - RW - Benfica - 20

After coming through the ranks at Partizan Belgrade, there was naturally a swarm of clubs interested in Andrija Zivkovic’s signature when his contract ran down. Benfica swooped in to snap him up in 2016, and he has since gone on to make 15 first-team appearances. 

At international level, he holds the record of being the youngest Serbian to ever earn a senior cap at just 17 years old, and any pressure or reliance on him to perform will likely have little effect - he took the captain’s armband at Partizan before his 20th birthday. In open play, he will be direct and entertaining, and from set pieces he will be similarly a nightmare for goalkeepers to deal with. His past proves that he should be mentally balanced enough to be valuable in the most testing of psychological circumstances.

Jakub Jankto - Czech Republic - CM - Udinese  - 21

A tough and hardy presence in Serie A, whose sizeable frame is enough to compete physically, without losing any of his nippy incisiveness in the final third. Five goals and four assists in 24 top-flight starts aren’t to be scoffed at, following Udinese’s distinctly average collective campaign, and Jankto will be given further license to pull the strings for the Czech Republic.

Given that he has been rumoured to have a low release clause of just six million euros, Jankto may well be playing in Poland with the thought in the back of his mind that a good tournament could get him a big summer move. It is little surprise, given that he is a dynamic midfielder, that he has taken on the mantle of ‘the new Rosicky’. 

Kasper Dolberg - Denmark - ST - Ajax - 19

Ajax charmed the hearts of many on their route to the Europa League final last season, with Kasper Dolberg being a huge part of the youthful verve and spirit that so many neutral spectators from across the world become enamoured with. Across all competitions, the young Dane managed 24 goals in 49 appearances, but his anonymous performance against Manchester United did his burgeoning reputation no favours.

Comfortable in possession, acting as a reference point for interplay within the attack, Dolberg is very much a complete performer. He has enough pace to cause problems in behind, and his calm finishing is something that belies his relative inexperience at the highest level. The U21 Euros are a chance to show that he is one of the brightest offensive prospects in his age bracket. 

Mahmoud Dahoud - Germany - CM - Borussia Dortmund (in the summer) - 21

It was confirmed back in March that Dahoud would be taking the gamble of moving from Borussia Monchengladbach to Dortmund this summer, following in the risky footsteps of Julian Weigl’s transition from 1860 Munich midfielder to a key man for Germany’s international future at senior level. Die Schwarzgelben provide a solid foundation for talented youngsters, and the same can be true here.

Dahoud will offer a calm and composed influence on the game from the centre of midfield, with the technical ability to be either reserved or expansive with his passing range. He will be a vital part of Germany’s spine in Poland, and should catch the eye this month ahead of bursting onto the top European stage with Dortmund. 

Federico Chiesa - Italy - LW - Fiorentina -  19

Pressure was naturally always going to arrive at Federico’s doorstep, namely because his father Enrico had a long, illustrious career that resulted in him playing for the likes of Sampdoria, Parma, Fiorentina, Lazio and the Italian national team itself. His breakout season has done little to dampen the optimism. 

After almost making 30 top-flight appearances across his breakout 2016/2017 campaign, Chiesa has done well to establish himself as a feasible Serie A option for Fiorentina. Just as his father was a forward, his son likes to push on and drive with the ball, but he is less of an orthodox striker - he will play wide, but is comfortable supporting the attack centrally too.

Jesus Vallejo - Spain - CB - Real Madrid - 20 

Eintracht Frankfurt fans may have wondered whether a young central defender on loan from Real Madrid would indeed be the real deal, given that many big clubs like to stockpile native talent on the basis that their home-grown contingent needs to be well-tended. If any had doubts, they were dissipated during a Bundesliga campaign that proven enough for Los Blancos to confirm they will be keeping hold of the 20-year-old for the coming 2017/2018 season.

Physical and pacy enough to be a match for plenty of adversaries, Jesus Vallejo will be able to deal with even the most slippery of customers, without lacking anything on the pitch in terms of intelligence and decision making. He should be a confident and assured presence for Spain in Poland, as he seeks to kick on from a groin injury that scuppered the tail end of his season.

Patrik Schick - Czech Republic - ST - Sampdoria - 21

The 2016/2017 campaign was, in many ways, Patrik Schick’s opportunity to come of age. At the outset of the Serie A season, he was an untested substitute, but now he has proven himself to the point where his regular periods spent sat on the bench have instead translated into league starts. The U21 Euros is an opportunity to build further on that very fact.

After scoring 11 goals in the Italian top flight, used solely as a striker, the Czech Republic will be looking to the 21-year-old to provide a cutting edge to the point of their attack. A purple patch in April shone a bright spotlight on his performances, following four goals in five outings, and big things are expected to follow. A 27-minute senior appearance for the Czech national team this month paves the way ahead.

Laszlo Benes - Slovakia - CM - Slovakia - 19

Many people within his home country would love to see Laszlo Benes lineup with regularity for the Slovakian senior team, but this summer provides a huge opportunity for the youngster to show why he deserves a chance above the other horde of midfield options that his nation has currently been guilty of nurturing. 

A solid campaign with MSK Zilina in 2015/2016 gave him the exposure he needed, and Gladbach were the team to take a 1.5 million gamble on his signature last summer. Since then, he has managed to fuel parallels drawn between himself and national captain Marek Hamsik with his Bundesliga performances. He is sans mohawk and tattoos but possesses good vision, a fantastic long shot and a very capable left foot.

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