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International competitions have so often provided a launchpad for the careers of talented young guns. Euro 2020 was no different in this regard.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup, for example, saw Benjamin Pavard, Ante Rebic, Hirving Lozano and Rodrigo Bentancur, among others, break out as the next big things in the game.
At Euro 2020, although the talent pool was considerably smaller, there were a few rising stars who made their mark. On that note, let's have a look at five players who impressed the most at the tournament:
#5 Kalvin Phillips (England)
It speaks volumes about a player when he's able to make a mark in a team comprising stars like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount, to name a few.
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But that's exactly what Kalvin Phillips managed to do at Euro 2020. He pulled the strings for the Three Lions from midfield, thanks to his excellent vision and incisive through-balls.
His assist for Raheem Sterling in England's victory against Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener was a work of art.
Coming off the back of a promising campaign with Leeds United, his first-ever top-flight campaign, there were questions about whether Phillips would be able to replicate those heroics in a major international competition.
But Phillips put those concerns to bed with a series of emphatic performances. The 25-year-old looked at home in Gareth Southgate's team and displayed tremendous composure in tough moments to bail his team out.
He could be a mainstay in England's midfield for years to come.
#4 Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy)
AS Roma fans know Leonardo Spinazzola very well. Now, thanks to his stellar displays at Euro 2020, the rest of the continent has taken notice of him too.
Spinazzola was a revelation as Italy's left-back during the tournament. Not only did he provide a constant outlet in attack, but he also came up trumps defensively. Spinazzola made three clearances and as many blocks to go with 27 ball recoveries.
His best piece of action was, of course, a key assist to Federico Chiesa against Austria in the last-16. Spinazzola delivered a beautiful over-the-top cross which helped the Azzurri break the deadlock.
Spinazzola's campaign, unfortunately, came to a premature end after he suffered an injury in the quarter-final against Belgium. But his performances weren't lost on anyone, and he was widely hailed as one of the finds of the tournament.
#3 Mikkel Damsgaard (Denmark)
Of all the players likely to move to a bigger club this summer, Mikkel Damsgaard is at the front of the line, thanks to his exploits at Euro 2020.
The 21-year-old was outstanding for Denmark at the tournament, making an assist and scoring twice. That included an outrageous 25-yard free-kick against England in the semi-final, the only player to score a direct free-kick goal at Euro 2020.
A winger by trade, he's now valued at £34 million by Sampdoria, his parent club. Damsgaard has already been linked with Real Madrid, while there have also been reports of interest from Liverpool.
Damsgaard is a versatile player, possessing the ability to play in midfield or upfront. He has also racked up the numbers in the clearances and interceptions columns.
#2 Pedri (Spain)
Before the start of Euro 2020, Pedri's chances of starting for Spain were in doubt. But manager Luis Enrique gave him a chance in the opening game against Sweden, and the Barcelona teenager didn't disappoint. And he didn't look back from there.
By the end of Spain's campaign at Euro 2020, the 18-year-old had created 11 chances for his team, the most by any Spanish player. Pedri also laid the most passes in the opposition box than any player, with 317.
His tactical awareness was supreme, and his ball-control was second to none as Pedri took Euro 2020 by storm, leaving everyone in awe of him. Comparisons with Andres Iniesta no longer look premature.
#1 Patrik Schick (Czech Republic)
Considering that Patrik Schick is 25 and somewhat of a household name in the German Bundesliga, his inclusion in this list may seem like an odd choice. But the striker truly came into his own at Euro 2020, netting five goals to help the Czech Republic reach the quarter-finals, against all odds.
Schick didn't even hit double-digit figures in terms of goals with Bayer Leverkusen last season. So that makes his accomplishments at Euro 2020 even more admirable.
His long-range strike against Scotland was one of the goals of the competition. It won him the 'Goal of the Tournament' award and might as well bag him a nomination for the Puskas Award this year too.
