Euro 2016 is the biggest festival of European Football and this edition of the quadrennial event will feature 24 teams, the most ever in the history of the tournament. As a result of this expansion to 24 teams, fans will not only get to see more teams participating, but also more players.
However as a result of this expansion, star players from some of the traditionally weaker nations will also feature in this tournament. So fans around the world will get to see stars like Gareth Bale (Wales), Marek Hamsik (Slovakia), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland), etc. in action on truly global International stage.
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While the tournament will feature some of the most recognisable and well-known faces from around the top leagues in Europe, there will also be some of the top rising young talents from around the top European leagues on display.
However, not all players who will feature in the Euros, play in the top European leagues and the same is true of the stars of the future. While no doubt the top European leagues are home to some bright young future prospects, there are many fine young players who ply their trade in the lesser known European Leagues.
We pick out 5 young talents from these lesser known European leagues who will be seen strutting their stuff in Euro 2016.
1) Breel Embolo (Switzerland)
Club – Basel (Swiss Super League)
Position – Striker
Breel Embolo is one of the most highly rated young strikers in Europe. The 19-year-old already has 10 caps for the Swiss and also has an International goal to his name. Embolo, who made his debut for Basel aged just 17, has scored 21 goals for his club in 61 appearances. In the season that just finished, Embolo helped Basel win the Swiss Super League, contribution 10 goals and 7 assists in 27 league games.
Breel Embolo will feature in Group A of the tournament, which also features hosts France, debutants Albania, and Romania. Switzerland are expected to finish second in the group and qualify for the knock-out rounds from the group, alongside France.
Embolo will look to capitalise on his opportunities to showcase his talent, and make Euro 2016 a grand coming out party, where he announces himself to the football world.
2) Ondrej Duda (Slovakia)
Club – Legia Warsaw (Polish Ekstraklasa)
Position – Attacking Midfielder
Ondrej Duda is a rising star in the Polish top division, who helped his side win the Ekstraklasa last season. It was the club’s 11th Ekstraklasa title, a record. Duda, just 21-years-old, contributed 5 goals and 9 assists for the club during the season, across all competitions.
Widely tipped to be the creative successor to present national team star, Napoli’s Marek Hamsik, Duda, who has 11 caps for Slovakia, has a keen eye for a pass and the creativity to unlock even the tightest of defences.
Duda will feature in group B alongside England, Russia and Wales. Slovakia are expected to finish no higher than 3rd behind England and Wales, and ahead of Russia, but Duda and Slovakia could still get a ticket into the knockout rounds if they finish among the best four 3rd place teams.
3) Bartosz Kapustka (Poland)
Club – Cracovia (Polish Ekstraklasa)
Position – Left Winger
Kapustka plays for mid-table Polish side Cracovia and contributed 5 goals and 10 assists in 35 appearances for his club last season. A naturally pacy winger down the left wing, the 19-year-old as 7 caps to his name, and has scored 2 international goals already for his national side.
Kapustka was voted the Discovered Player of the year in 2015 by a leading Polish Magazine and has gone from strength to strength since making his debut for his club side aged just 17.
Kapustka scored his first International goal on his International debut and has since become integral to the Polish side. While he is not yet a regular starter, he has regularly been deployed as an impact substitute by coach Adam Nawalka.
Kapustka can be seen in action for Poland in Group C, which also features World Champions Germany, Ukraine and debutants Northern Ireland. Poland are likely to face a tough fight from Ukraine for the 2nd spot in the group, and Ukraine’s solid defence could give them an edge in this contest.
The good news for whoever finishes 3rd is that Northern Ireland are not expected to win any points and so whoever finishes 3rd in the group, should have at least 3 points from beating Northern Ireland and thus has a very good chance of sneaking into the knockout rounds through the best four 3rd placed teams.
4) Ante Coric (Croatia)
Club – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatian Top Division)
Position – Attacking Midfielder
At the age of just 19, Coric has been labelled the second coming of Zidane, and every top club of Europe is tracking his development at Dinamo. Coric is a recent addition to the national side and has just 2 caps to his name, so far but his potential has everyone excited.
He contributed 4 goals and 5 assists for Dinamo last season, and the eyes of all the top clubs in Europe will be firmly on him when he takes the field for Croatia.
His goal for Dinamo against Astra Giurgiu in the 14/15 Europa League campaign saw him become the youngest ever Europa League goal scorer at the age of 17 years and 157 days. He won the 2015 Croatian League Young Players of the year award.
Croatia feature in a tough group, along with defending champions Spain, Czech Republic and Turkey. Croatia should finish second in the group behind Spain and get to the knockout rounds. However this group features 4 good sides, and surprises are likely to on offer.
5) Adam Nagy (Hungary)
Club – Ferencvaros (Hungarian 1. League)
Position – Defensive Midfielder
Last season for a breakthrough year for the 20-year-old holding midfielder, when he impressed for his club side and was given the league’s Best Discovered Player of the Year award. Nagy was so impressive that he was quickly brought into the national side and has 8 caps to his name already.
Besides protecting the back four, Nagy is also quite handy when it comes to recycling possession from the midfield, which fits Hungary’s possession football game. Some top clubs around Europe are said to be keeping a close eye on his development, most notably Chelsea and Liverpool. Nagy is deployed in a defensive role and so naturally is not much of a threat in attack but even so he did provide 2 assists last season for his club side.
Nagy will be seen in action in Group H, along with Portugal, Austria and Iceland. Hungary are expected to struggle in the group and will rely on their defensive unit to lead the way, and Nagy’s contribution in this quest will be vital.
