UEFA U21 Euros: Ranking the favourites

The UEFA U21 Euros are back and everyone must pay attention. The tournament is an excellent platform for young players to perform on a big stage and showcase themselves to the world. It is also a great opportunity for clubs to scout talented youngsters and get ahead in the transfer game.

For us fans, it is an opportunity to get an early glimpse of players who could dominate the world for the next decade or more.

The UEFA U21 Euros were last played in 2019 in Italy and San Marino. Spain emerged triumphant, beating Germany 2-1 in the final. Spain alone had in their ranks the likes of Dani Olmo, Dani Ceballos, and Fabian Ruiz.

The UEFA U21 Euros 2021 will be held in Slovenia and Hungary with four cities in each country hosting matches. Jan Oblak and Peter Gulacsi are the tournament ambassadors for their respective countries.

The format of this year's UEFA U21 Euros is unique, with the group stage and knockout stage held separately. The group stage takes place from 24 to 31 March 2021, with the group winners and runners-up advancing to the eight-team knockout phase from 31 May to 6 June 2021.

Here are the favorites to win this year's UEFA U21 Euros

#5 Netherlands

The Dutch are famous for their youth academies and their use of young players. The likes of Ajax and AZ Alkmaar have excellent academies, while the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord don't shy away from playing youngsters either.

Netherlands's best player going into the tournament is Teun Koopmeiners

This team hence is blessed with multiple excellent talents. Their defense boasts multiple excellent talents in the form of PSG left-back Bakker and right-backs Teze and Zeefuik. Sven Botman has formed one of the best defenses in Europe in Lille and will be very important to the chances for Jong Orange.

Teun Koopmeiners, the AZ midfielder, is the star of the team and he'll have multiple clubs watching him. The forward line is tremendously exciting, featuring the likes of Myron Boadu, Brian Brobbey, Justin Kluivert, Dilrosun, Cody Gakpo and Noa Lang.

#4 Portugal

FC Barcelona's Trincao is Portugal's next big hope

The Portuguese senior team does obviously have a great chance of winning the Euros and Portugal U21 are also in with a great chance of winning the U21 Euros. They have one of the best front three's in the tournament in Barca's Francisco Trincao, AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Benfica's Jota, who's on loan at Valladolid.

FC Porto's Diogo Leite has the makings of a good defender

The midfield houses one of the potential stars of the tournament in Pedro Goncalves, who has been one of the best players in the Liga Nos. He's also ensured that Sporting are the only unbeaten team in the top European leagues. He hasn't let his club feel the absence of a certain Bruno Fernandes.

He will play ahead of Gedson Fernandes and Florentino Luis, both very promising talents whose hype has died down a little. They also have a solid backline with center back Diogo Leite of Porto, who has been tipped to do great things. Fullbacks Diogo Dalot, Tomas Tavares and Thierry Correia have impressed too.

#3 Spain

This is Riqui Puig's platform to impress

The Spanish U21 team bear the heavy influence of Barca's La Masia - which is widely agreed upon as the best academy in the world.

Like most Spanish teams, their midfield has a collection of lovely ball players including Riqui Puig, Roma's Villar, and the likes of Moncayola, Fran Beltran and Zubimendi, all of whom regularly feature for La Liga sides.

FMingueza has come out of nowhere to become a regular for Barca

The defense has the likes of Valencia's Hugo Guillamon and Jorge Cuenca, who have been among the best players in the Segunda Division this season. They also have Barca's surprise breakout star Oscar Mingueza, Juan Miranda of Real Betis and Getafe's Marc Cucurella among others.

The attack consists of Ander Barranetxea and Brahim Diaz, two very highly rated talents alongside Abel Ruiz, who has impressed for Braga.

Spain might not be as strong as England or France but they definitely have enough to get the job done. Spain's strongest sides over the years have seen a strong influence from Barca's famed academy and this is no different.

With a strong supporting cast in place too, La Roja has a good shot at the trophy.

#2 England

Curtis Jones is a real gem in Liverpool's midfield

The Three Lions have an amazing array of young talent but a number of them are so good that they are going to be featuring for the seniors and not here. What's left is still outstanding.

The defense is comparatively weaker to the rest of the team but they still have multiple regulars from the Championship in Guehi, Aarons and Kelly alongside the very impressive Ben Godfrey of Everton.

Curtis Jones, who has become a regular for reigning champions Liverpool, leads the midfield with Gallagher, Skipp and Davies. Eze and McNeil bring the requisite attacking impetus.

Callum Hudson-Odoi will be looking to prove himself

The forward line is blessed with excellent prospects including Chelsea's Callum Hudson Odoi, who has already debuted for the seniors. Others like Madueke, Smith Rowe, Cantwell and Nketiah are also highly spoken of and round off a very potent attacking unit.

It's been 4 years since England's U17 World Cup win in India and a few players from that team are present here. The likes of Hudson-Odoi, Gallagher, Guehi and Smith-Rowe will be chasing a second age-level triumph before going onto greater things with the seniors.

#1 France

Kounde in my opinion is the best player of the tournament.

The reigning World Cup winners are also absolute favorites to win the U21 Euros crown. The quality they possess is genuinely ridiculous. Even the players that haven't been called up like Caquaret, Todibo and Saliba are phenomenal and would get into almost all other teams starting lineups.

In Illan Meslier and Alban Lafont, France has two of the best U21 keepers in the world. Their centre-backs consist of Jules Kounde (who in my humble opinion is the best player in the tournament), Wesley Fofana, Ibrahima Konate and Benoit Badiashile.

That's four centre-backs who would get called up for the senior teams in most countries. The midfield is insane as well.

Camavinga is one of Europe's brightest ballers

The crux is formed by Matteo Guendozi, Boubacar Kamara, Eduardo Camavinga, Boubacary Soumare and Monaco's latest sensation Aurelien Tchouameni. Like the keepers and the defense, their midfield is also the best in the tournament.

Odsonne Edouard, Jonathan Ikone and the in-form Amine Gouiri round off the forward line. The absence of Houssem Aouar and Mousa Diaby would hurt any side but with the strength of this France team, that looks unlikely.