As Euro 2021 is fast approaching (June 11 – July 11), some young footballers will experience great international competition for the first time in their careers. Jérémy Doku, Jude Bellingham or Adam Hlozek, all have a great future. Here are the eleven of the young nuggets present in this European Championship.
Euro 2021 football promises to be exciting as the level of play should be high. While France is heralded as the big favorite by many, many other nations can claim the final victory this year.
Whether it is Italy, England, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal or even a surprise like Turkey, all present a team with many qualities.
Among the best players in the competition are also some nuggets. Players between 17 and 22 years old and already promised a bright future.
For them, Euro 2021 is the first big competition of their young career. The ideal playground to show off to the world. Discover the eleven of the young nuggets that you will have to follow this summer in front of your television.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, a crazy experience for his age
At 22, Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma is the oldest player on this list. But he is the youngest goalkeeper in the competition aiming for a starting place.
In the cages of the Italian selection, the goalkeeper of AC Milan is often presented as the worthy successor of Gianluigi Buffon, and it is rather deserved. For him, the great experience he has acquired for his young age attests to this.
With the Rossoneri, he has already played 251 matches in all competitions, and 25 matches with the Italian team. It’s hard to do better in a position where the competition is the toughest in football. Announced on the shelves of Paris Saint-Germain this summer, he could take advantage of Euro 2021 to prove his talent and ensure a future that meets expectations.
Eric Garcia has yet to assert himself
At 20, Eric Garcia is one of the young promises of Spanish football as a defender. Pure product of Macia, training center of FC Barcelona, he decided at the age of 17 to go into exile in Manchester City to try to get playing time and finish his training. A successful experience for the Spaniard who played 35 games under the orders of Pep Guardiola.
FC Barcelona decided to buy the player last week. An immense joy for the young defender. “My dream was to play for Barça and to have the opportunity to change in the locker room is a huge joy, he said. The important thing is not what happened but what should happen. “ With his seven caps for Spain, he will be one of the hopes to follow during Euro 2021.
Ilan Zabarnyi puts Ukraine at his feet
At just 18 years old, Dinamo Kiev center-back impresses everyone in Ukraine. While he only made his professional debut last September at the start of the season, Ilan Zabarnyi has played all of his team’s Champions League matches.
He has therefore already had the opportunity to face Juventus Turin and FC Barcelona. Holder in the league, he greatly participated in the double cup-championship won by Dinamo Kiev this season. A great experience for such a young player.
But that’s not all since Andrei Shevchenko has already trusted him six times with the Ukrainian selection. He celebrated his first selection against France on October 7 (7-1). With its 1m89, it will become one of the control towers of the Ukrainian rearguard.
Josko Gvardiol, storming Europe
At 19, Dinamo Zagreb center-back could quickly become one of Europe’s best defenders. Croatian Josko Gvardiol has enjoyed a meteoric rise since his professional debut in 2019.
Holder with Dinamo Zagreb, he has greatly participated in the course of his family in the Europa League, where the Croats have climbed to the quarter-finals of the competition.
On the shelves of many European clubs, the solid defender has finally signed up with RB Lepizig, with whom he signed a five-year contract starting next season. On the occasion of Euro 2021, he will discover the joy of evolving with Croatia, while he has no selection yet.
Owen Wijndal wins in the Netherlands
AZ Alkmaar defender Owen Wijndal will experience the joys of great international competition for the first time. At 21, the left-back already has a lot of experience.
While making his professional debut at the age of 17 against PSV Eindhoven, Owen Wijndal has already played 100 Eredivisie matches.
Called for the first time in August 2020 with the national team, he has the joy of being called up for Euro 2021. He will be one of the young prospects to follow.
Jamal Musiala, at full speed
Born in 2003, Jamal Musiala is one of the most promising players of his generation. Possessing dual English and German nationality, he was trained in Southampton, Chelsea and then Bayern Munich. A beautiful CV already for a young player.
England and Germany struggled to convince him to play for their country. In March 2021, the young player finally decided to opt for Germany and made his debut in March 2021 against Iceland (3-0).
At Bayern Munich, he rose through the ranks very quickly and played for the first time in the Bundesliga in June 2020. At 17 years and 115 days old, he became the youngest player in the history of the Bavarian club to evolve in the league. This season, he has established himself in the rotation and has already played 39 appearances for Bayern Munich, for 7 goals.
Jude Bellingham, the hope of the crown
Only 17 years old and already a long experience. Trained in Birmingham City, the Englishman Jude Bellingham made his debut at only 16 in the Championship (English D2), became a starter and played no less than 44 matches with his club. He panics then all the big ones of Europe who wish to welcome him. He finally opts for Borussia Dortmund.
Transferred for 25 million euros, the young midfielder wins very quickly and plays 46 matches this season for 5 goals including the opener against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals. In an English selection that looks great, he could simply dazzle Euro 2021 with his talent.
Ryan Gravenberch, symbol of Ajax Amsterdam training
A pure product of Ajax Amsterdam’s training, the Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch received the Abdelhak-Nouri prize, which rewards the most promising talent of the training center, in 2018.
He made his debut for the first team in September 2018 against PSV Eindhoven and at 16 years and 4 months, he became the youngest player to play for Ajax Amsterdam in the league. He is thus ahead of Clarence Seedorf.
He honors his first selection with the Netherlands first team in March 2021 against Turkey and already has 3 caps. It can be one of the surprises of Euro 2021.
Jérémy Doku, announced as the successor of Eden Hazard
Jérémy Doku also crosses the stages at full speed. Trained in Anderlecht, the young striker is one of the new nuggets of the Belgian squad. Transferred to Stade Rennais last summer for the sum of 26 million euros, he had a full season by winning as the holder.
With two goals in 37 matches, he can still progress in the finish but has exceptional qualities of speed and percussion.
Within the Breton club, he discovered the Champions League for the first time and was regularly called up for selection. Despite his 19 years, he already has 6 caps for 2 goals. A good performance when you know the players present in the selection.
Phil Foden, the star of the team
Destined to become one of the stars of world football, the Englishman Phil Foden is logically part of this eleven of the young nuggets of Euro 2021. Trained in Manchester City, he made his debut with Pep Guardiola at the age of 17 years in the Champions League against Feyernood Rotterdam.
In 2018, he became the youngest player to become champion of England since the creation of the Premier League in 1992.
At 21, he already has 121 appearances with Manchester City for 31 goals scored. Midfielder or attacker, he has an incredible quality palette for his young age. In September 2020, he honors his first selection with England against Iceland. He counts 6 selections for 2 goals.
Adam Hlozek, the Czech hope
At just 18 years old, Adam Hlozek has established himself as one of the Czech Republic’s top scorers. Trained at Sparta Prague, he made his debut in the Czech league at the age of only 16.
With 15 goals in just 19 league matches this season, he is logically called for Euro 2021 where he risks making some sparks.
He currently has only 2 caps with the Czech Republic.
This team made up of eleven future talents present at Euro 2021, has an average age of 19.2 years. They will be the nuggets to follow throughout the competition and the ones that can create surprises and pop in the eyes of the whole world.
