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Euro 2020 promises to be an exciting affair as the vast majority of the biggest stars in world football are set to battle it out for continental supremacy. Big stages like the European competition have always birthed new heroes. It's a great opportunity for the young players who will be playing in the tournament to lay a solid foundation for their careers.
We have a plethora of extremely talented young individuals who will be strutting their stuff at Euro 2020. Most nations have named squads that have a great mix of youth and experience while a few have leaned towards banking primarily on the former.
Euro 2020 will feature some world-class u-23 players
Many of these young players have already established themselves at club level and a few have made an impression on the international stage as well. But a great run at Euro 2020 will greatly raise their stocks.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five u-23 stars who could dominate Euro 2020.
#5 Ryan Gravenberch - Netherlands/Ajax
Another exciting product from the famed Ajax academy, Ryan Gravenberch, has already established himself in the Eredivisie. He had turned heads with a handful of impressive performances for Ajax in the 2019-20 season. But he truly elevated his game and started 31 out of the 34 league games this past season as Ajax were crowned champions of the Netherlands.
The 19-year-old can play as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder. He thrives as the latter and has a strong physical presence which is complemented by some eye-catching technical ability.
He is a slick passer of the ball and ranked second in the Eredivisie for passes completed per game. He made 68 passes on average per game this past season. Now that Donny van de Beek has been ruled out of Euro 2020 with an injury, Gravenberch is expected to start for the Netherlands.
He has the technical ability and the finesse to orchestrate play for Frank De Boer's side in the competition. In fact, he could go on to become a star for the Netherlands at Euro 2020.
#4 Pedri - Spain/Barcelona
18-year-old Barcelona midfielder is coming off an impressive season for his club. Now that Sergio Busquets has come down with Covid-19, Pedri will have moved up the pecking order for Spain. While he is not a guaranteed starter, he can be a real difference maker with his ability to dictate play from midfield.
Pedri ranked fourth among all teenagers in Europe for the most number of key passes (40) in the 2020-21 season. He has established himself as a vital cog in Ronald Koeman's midfield. The diminutive midfielder's agility and ball-carrying ability has already earned him comparisons with a certain Andres Iniesta.
With 37 appearances in La Liga for Barcelona, there is no doubt that Pedri is ready for the big stage. But it remains to be seen whether he will be afforded ample opportunities at Euro 2020. If he is, then we could see the very best of the talented youngster.
#3 Kai Havertz - Germany/Chelsea
After nearly being written off as a transfer flop, Kai Havertz sprang to life for Chelsea in the closing stages of the 2020-21 season. He was able to silence his critics, scoring goals and providing assists as he thrived under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel.
Havertz scored Chelsea's winner in the Champions League final and it looks like he has truly hit his stride at the right time as far as Germany are concerned. Havertz completes an incredibly talented German attack and could be the main link between their midfield and frontline at Euro 2020.
He has a lot of flair and can slalom past defenders with his silky dribbling skills. Havertz is also calm and composed when presented with the opportunity to find the back of the net. Havertz usually plays as a second striker for Germany. But due to Timo Werner's poor form, he could even start as their centre-forward.
#2 Phil Foden - England/Manchester City
Phil Foden played a starring role in Manchester City's Premier League triumph this past season. The 21-year-old has become a vital cog in Pep Guardiola's system and has thrived playing alongside some of the most versatile attackers in the game at City.
Foden is chief among the array of world-class young talent that Gareth Southgate is taking to Euro 2020. He scored a total of 16 goals and provided 10 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City this past season.
Foden can play in a variety of positions across the frontline and midfield and is extremely good with the ball at his feet. He can beat defenders, score goals and play some slick passes in and around the final third. Foden's creativity will be crucial to England's chances at Euro 2020.
#1 Kylian Mbappe - France/Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe has been at the very top for so many years now that it is a bit of a surprise that he is just 22-years-old. He has already won the FIFA World Cup with France and was one of the architects in chief behind Les Bleus' triumphant campaign in Russia.
He will be Deschamps' main weapon in attack. Mbappe's pace and trickery has often proven to be too much for defenders to handle. His presence makes France arguably the most dangerous team on the counter at Euro 2020.
Mbappe is coming off an excellent season with Paris Saint-Germain at individual level. He scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Parisiens.
Mbappe is likely to be joined by the likes of Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann in France's starting lineup. It'll be hard to find a sharper attack than that at the tournament.
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