There are 624 gamers representing 24 nations at Euro 2024, however solely 11 of them are beneath the age of 20.
If the performances of a few of them up to now are something to go by, then the way forward for the continental sport seems to be very vivid certainly.
Let’s check out the youngsters lighting up Germany this summer season…
Joao Neves
Joao Neves was not even born when countryman Cristiano Ronaldo modified the sport for youngsters with a few assists at Euro 2004.
The 19-year-old Benfica starlet was given a cameo off the bench in Portugal’s Group F win over Turkey after which handed the beginning in central midfield of their third sport, a defeat in opposition to Georgia, after they had already sealed top-spot within the group.
Man United are among the many admirers mentioned to be lining up a summer season swoop for the teen, who’s prone to command a payment of nicely over £50m already.
In the event that they did full a deal that might see him kind an intriguing partnership with…
Kobbie Mainoo
The 18-year-old impressed after making his worldwide debut in March and his FA Cup heroics for Man United noticed him referred to as up by Gareth Southgate, who gave him a cameo off the bench in England’s Group C opener in opposition to Serbia.
He remained on the bench for the Denmark sport however modified the sport after approaching at half-time in opposition to Slovenia after which earned a begin within the Spherical of 16 win in opposition to Slovakia – taking part in 84 minutes and negotiating the final 77 of these on a yellow card.
He seems to be a nailed-on starter for the quarter-final in opposition to Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday night too.
Mainoo
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— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 4, 2024
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Arda Guler
Turkey’s Arda Guler has already grow to be simply the third teenager to each rating and help in the identical version of the European Championships, following within the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, who each did so at Euro 2004.
The 19-year-old’s surprise strike in opposition to Georgia of their first group sport noticed the previous Fenerbahce attacking midfielder grow to be the fifth youngest goalscorer in Euros historical past and simply the second teenager to attain on his Euros debut after Ronaldo in 2004.
He got here off the bench in sport two in opposition to Portugal however returned to the beginning XI within the 2-1 win over Czech Republic which noticed his facet progress as group runners-up, after which additionally the 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday night time.
He hasn’t featured as a lot as he’d like after his transfer to Actual Madrid final summer season, accidents seeing him wait till late January to make his La Liga debut, nonetheless he scored 5 objectives in his final 5 league video games, beginning 4 of them, and that kind has continued into the summer season.
Count on him to begin once more in opposition to the Netherlands within the last-eight, together with
Kenan Yildiz
Sure, Turkey have two of them! The German-born Juventus ahead solely turned 19 in Could however has began all 4 video games up to now, coming in from the left flank.
He obtained 9 begins and made one other 18 appearances off the bench for the Previous Girl in Serie A this season though he solely scored twice and assisted one aim.
There may be really a 3rd Turkish teen on this thrilling squad, however 18-year-old Besiktas ahead Semih Kilicsoy has but to return off the bench on this event.
Kacper Urbanski
The 19-year-old Bologna ahead appeared in all three of Poland’s video games in Group D, although couldn’t stop them ending backside.
He began in opposition to the Netherlands however got here off shortly after the break in Poland’s 2-1 defeat, he made a quick look off the bench within the loss in opposition to Austria however was recalled and performed 90 minutes as his facet drew 1-1 with France within the group finale.
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Lamine Yamal
The Barcelona prodigy doesn’t flip 17 till the day earlier than the Euro 2024 remaining and smashed the file for the youngest participant to seem at a Euros, set by Poland’s Kacper Kozłowski at Euro 2020, by 273 days.
The wide-man is Spain’s youngest ever participant, youngest goalscorer and now has six assists in his 11 caps – all earned this yr.
The left-footer supplied six assists at membership stage since January – essentially the most of any teenager in Europe this season – and has made 60 appearances for Barcelona and Spain previously yr.
His chic cross for Fabian Ruiz to attain in opposition to Georgia was his second help of the event after opening his account within the opening group sport in opposition to Croatia, matching the feat of a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2004.
He’ll certainly be within the XI for the massive quarter-final matchup between Spain and Germany on Friday night and shall be trying to break additional data, little doubt.
The remaining
Feyernoord winger Leo Sauer, 18, solely obtained 4 minutes as an alternative choice to Slovakia of their second group sport, a 2-1 reverse in opposition to Ukraine.
PSG’s 18-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery has but to return off the bench for France on the event.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, 19, did not play a minute for Belgium throughout their ill-fated marketing campaign, which resulted in a Spherical of 16 exit in opposition to France.
Georgia and FC Basel midfielder Gabriel Sigua, who turned 19 throughout the event, failed to seem off the bench in his nation’s 4 matches.
