5 world class players who first impressed at the U-21 European Championship

3) Raul – Spain

Raul finished runners-up at the 1996 Euros with Spain

Spain are one of the best teams in the history of the U-21 Euros, winning the competition four times. They could have added a fifth if they had won the final in 1996 but it was Italy who came out on top in that contest.

Among the members of that talented Spain squad that had the likes of Aitor Karanka and Fernando Morientes (19 at the time), there was one standout player wearing his favourite no.7 jersey – Raul Gonzalez.

He was the youngest player in the tournament (aged only 18) playing among other players who were between 20 to 23 years old (players who are U-21 at the start of the qualifying campaign are allowed to take part in the U-21 Euros even if they are over 21). Of course, he was already a part of the Real Madrid senior team setup at the time, scoring goals at will as a teenager.

And it was quite remarkable to see the youngest player at the tournament also finish as the competition’s top scorer with three goals. He first scored a brace in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals before scoring the equaliser in the final.

However, there was heartbreak in store for Raul as he was one of two Spaniards to miss their kick in the penalty shootout that followed. Raul was the fourth kicker and his miss saw Italy maintain their lead before winning 4-2 to clinch the title.