Just before the onset of any major football event, there is a huge craze about the young guns who, as all football admirers expect them to be, carry immense potential to rule the football world some day in future. It’s no different now when both the UEFA Euro 2021 and Copa America 2021 are knocking at the door. Here in this article, EBRP brings you the most exciting young prospects whom people are going to enjoy in the upcoming Euros.
10. Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands)
Two terms in European Football are very synonymous, “Youth Development” and “AFC Ajax”. Ryan is an 18-year old Ajax academy product who plays as a midfielder and is immensely versatile with respect to his age. Ryan can play as a central midfielder with a box to box role, and at the same time he is a qualified orchestrator. The young prospect was given his first cap for The Oranje on 24th March, 2021 when he came off the bench as a 82nd minute substitute versus Turkey. Although it’s evident that the likes of Frenkie De Jong, Gini Wijnaldum and Dony Van De Beek will be ahead in the pecking order, who knows the youngster might just come of the bench and produce a match winning performance someday!
9. Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Musiala has an interesting past behind him. Although his breakthrough came while playing for Bayern in the last season, he is a product of Chelsea academy where he played for 9 years! The 17-year old attacking midfielder also boasts the record for playing in two different nations’ youth teams, England and Germany! But now, Musiala is a Bavarian and determined to play for the Germans, the country of his origin. While he enjoyed a fabulous season for Bayern for whom he made 27 appearances and scored 6 goals, he was also called at the national camp and made his debut against Iceland coming on as a 80th minute substitute.
8. Dejan Kulusevski (Sweden)
The guy who has the potential to change the definition of creative midfielders, Dejan Kulusevski, is someone who can play in almost every position as an advanced playmaker, be it down the flanks, or wings or even as central attacking midfielder. The 20-year old Juventus playmaker has seen enough senior level football compared to his age, and without any doubt has silenced all critics who raised questions upon his signing. More importantly, you can’t make 34 appearances in such a age for a club like Juventus until you are someone special. Given the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovich after an injury ruled him out of Euros, all eyes would be on Kulusevski as how he can pull the strings for his national side, and help them gain qualification from a group featuring team like Spain and Poland.
7. Phil Foden (England)
The making of the star that Indians saw back in 2017, he unsung hero of England’s triumph in U-17 World Cup in 2017, Phil Foden is perhaps enjoying the form of his life at Manchester City right now. Having bagged 49 appearances in all competitions for City in 2020-21 season and scoring 16 goals, Foden played a very crucial role in the club’s first ever qualification to the Champions League Final. His pace and ability to dribble and cut in through the wings make him special. At the age of 20 Foden has already made 6 career appearances for the Senior English national side and bagged a couple of goals. His involvement, without a single question, will decide how far the Three Lions can go in the continental competition.
6. Pedri Gonzalez (Spain)
A product of the UD Las Palmas Youth Academy, Pedri Gonzalez Lopez who is better known as Pedri, was brought on by Spanish Giants FC Barcelona in a phase of transition that they are going through. From day one he became a favourite of Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, and went on to gather 50 appearances for the club this season! The 18- year old plays as a roaming midfielder who can pick up balls from the defence and minutes later can be pulling his opposition marker in the final third. He looks more like a traditional number 8, the reason why most fans relate him to the club legend Andrés Iniesta. For his impressive performances he was called by Luis Enrique to the senior side for which he went on to make 3 appearances in March 2021! Pedri has been a recent sensation all over Europe, and without a doubt would be a key substitute for La Rojas, if he doesn’t start!
Watch out this space for the second part of this article.
