Euro 2024: Five Stars to Light up the Big Stage
The 2023/24 Premier League season may be deep inside the final furlong, with the thrilling title race between Manchester City and Arsenal likely to go down to the final game. In a normal year, we would then face a long summer of endless transfer rumours as fans began to tick off the days until August.
However, this is no ordinary year. It probably won’t have escaped your attention that a small tournament is taking place in Germany this summer, with the thrilling Euro 2024 ride beginning on Friday 14 June. Always a hugely anticipated event, the latest instalment in Euros history has flans flocking to the top Euro 2024 New Betting Sites and seeking out info on the most illuminating football sites.
Many familiar sights await fans of international football tournaments; Thomas Müller is still pulling on the shirt for the host nation, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo has taken his near goal-a-game ratio to Saudi Arabia and will be hoping for one last hurrah (assuming he isn’t still leading the line for Portugal in 2026). However, here we turn to the other end of the age spectrum to pick out five younger stars who appear primed and ready for a breakout tournament.
Florian Wirtz – Germany
On paper, Germany don’t deserve to be among the favourites for the tournament. However, as the old maxim goes, you should, “never write off the Germans”. Julien Nagelsmann’s troops have found a little form at the right time, will play on home soil, and they have Florian Wirtz. Arriving on a high following Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga romp, if Germany goes deep, expect it to be on the back of a stellar display or two from this dynamic, creative 21-year-old. A goal and assist king, expect Wirtz’s already high profile to be even higher come July.
Jude Bellingham – England
Without wishing to get carried away, England appear to have the most talented raft of youngsters in the tournament. Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and possibly even Cole Palmer would have made this list if playing for any other nation, but trumping them all is Ballon d’Or contender Jude Bellingham. Good in the tackle, excellent at reading the game, visionary, an effective dribbler, and an excellent finisher, it’s hard to find any holes in the game of the Real Madrid maestro. Still only 20 years old, if Bellingham can bring his club form to Germany, all those years of hurt may come to an end.
Heorhiy Sudakov – Ukraine
Likely to be many fans second side at the tournament, Ukraine promise to be pretty entertaining. Mykhailo Mudryk may have grabbed the headlines with his big-money move to Chelsea, but the player to watch may be his former Shakhtar Donetsk teammate Heorhiy Sudakov. The 21-year-old isn’t yet the finished article, but boasts sublime touch and impeccable vision, and is the creative hub of Serhiy Rebrov’s outfit. Don’t be surprised if Sudakov is the subject of intense transfer speculation at the end of the tournament.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia
Next up is Napoli’s magician, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite seeming to have been around for a while, “Kvaradona” is still only 23 years of age and now gets his chance at a major international tournament following Georgia’s unexpected qualification. Almost unplayable in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning season, the levels of Gli Azzurri may have dipped this term, but Kvaratskhelia and his mesmeric dribbling remain in sparkling form.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Hungary
If there is a side to upset the applecart this summer, many shrewd judges suggest it may be Hungary. Few players will be more motivated heading into the tournament than Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored the goal to send his nation to Euro 2020, only to miss out through injury. Impressive in his debut season at Anfield, his ferocious shooting, set-piece delivery, and vision make the Magyars captain the centre-piece around which the entire side revolves.