© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

The Best Up-And-Coming Talents from the U-17 Euros

June 1, 2024
Player Analysis, Scouting Report

Jadon Sancho, Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fàbregas, Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres…what do all of these players have in common? All of them have won the Best Player award in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

 

The Onerous Rise of Como 1907 – A Fitting Project for a Deserving Establishment

 

Countless stars have used this tournament as a launching pad to showcase their quality and test their skills against the best teams in Europe, and this year promises to be no different. Today, we’re taking a look at the best teenage prospects who are showcasing their talents in the U-17 Euros.

 

Rodrigo Mora (Portugal)

 

Rodrigo Mora is one of Olival’s greatest diamonds. He’s a youngster with stratospheric potential, which has been evident in this edition of the UEFA Youth League. The Porto academy talent plays as a second striker and has unrivalled technical ability. For his age, he exhibits abnormally high levels of intelligence and decision-making.

 

 

He’s a player who roams the pitch, excellent at finding and occupying spaces and extremely decisive in short spaces. Capable of unsettling deep blocks, he’s a player who excels at passing, receiving, and dribbling. His speed and explosiveness combined with his technical quality make the Portuguese creator a constant threat in 1v1 duels.

 

Mora also possesses excellent finishing abilities. He’s a unique talent who has been playing brilliantly for the Dragons’ reserve squad and will soon make his debut for the starting squad. 

 

Guille Fernández (Spain)

 

After a season that has seen Lamine Yamal, Fermín López and Pau Cubarsí burst onto the scene, Barcelona may have already found their next big star. The expectations surrounding Guille Fernández are immense: the attacking midfielder has trained with Xavi’s first team in addition to making his debut with the club’s B team. The young Catalan is extremely calm and elegant when he has the ball, managing to escape opposition pressure relatively easily.

 

Xavi at Barcelona: A Reunion Gone Horribly Wrong

 

He’s extremely developed when it comes to dribbling, ball control and targeted receptions. Given his abundance of technical resources, it should come as no surprise that he can perform well under pressure and nearly always makes the correct decisions.

 

In the final third, he demonstrates his vision for creative passing. Thus, Barça’s jewel possesses exceptional qualities that make him a very unsettling player offensively.  Barcelona’s new generation is full of talent, and Guille Fernández is no exception, possessing the qualities to become a key element in the Culés’ maneuvers for years to come. 

 

Francesco Camarda (Italy)

 

Francesco Camarda is emerging as the biggest phenomenon on the Italian football scene today. With formidable numbers throughout his formative years, the Italian is skipping stages, having already made his debut for the Rossoneri at just 15 years old. Camarda is a complete number nine who bears a resemblance to Harry Kane given the way he links up as well as his ability to make creative decisions.

 

 

He’s an opportunist, finishing with both feet, and he is also capable in the air. He’s extremely intelligent, showing great efficiency in his movements without the ball, opening up space for his team-mates. In addition, the AC Milan forward is fast and physically strong. Camarda has tremendous potential, and with a killer instinct in front of goal, he may just be Milan’s long-term answer to Olivier Giroud at the center forward position.

 

Marc Bernal (Spain)

 

La Masia is an inexhaustible source of talent. From the same generation as Pau Cubarsí, defensive midfielder Marc Bernal has everything it takes to play a crucial role in the Blaugrana’s future. He stands out for his exceptional passing ability, vision, and reading of the game. Reminiscent of Sergio Busquets, he is an exquisite midfielder with Barça DNA.

 

 

His physical complexion combined with his intelligence make the Catalan an immensely capable player in the defensive part of the game. With a maturity and leadership that is uncommon at such a young age, Bernal is a standout in this promising La Roja generation and one of the youngsters to keep an eye on in the competition.   

 

Ayyoub Bouaddi (France)

 

LOSC Lille is a club that fosters the growth and development of talent. Eden Hazard, Victor Osimhen and Rafael Leão are all names that have had successful spells at the French club and have subsequently made the leap to bigger clubs. Les Dogues also stand out as an academy. Leny Yoro is one of the most promising center-backs at the moment, while midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has what it takes to become a key figure for the Ligue 1 side.

 

The Frenchman’s maturity and intelligence allow him to play different roles in midfield. He may be used as a first builder because of his exceptional passing ability and strong resistance to pressure. Above all, he’s a creative player who excels at dribbling, which allows him to get into more advanced areas of the pitch.

 

Tactical Analysis: Paulo Fonseca’s Lille

 

In defensive terms, Bouaddi has a strong ability to anticipate. He’s also proficient at tackling, given his long legs and his fine reading of the game. The LOSC Lille midfielder is an extremely versatile player and, regardless of the role he performs in the midfield, he will undoubtedly be one of the most important figures in this French team.  

 

In addition to the players mentioned above, names such as Geovany Quenda (Portugal), Ethan Nwaneri (England), Chido Obi (Denmark) and Marek Naskos (Czech Republic) should be followed closely, as they also demonstrate distinctive talent. 

 

After a week of action in Cyprus, the tournament is coming down to the wire. Sunday will see Denmark face off against Italy, whilst Serbia will take on Portugal in the other semifinal. As things stand, there is a five-way tie for the top scorer between Austria’s Oghenetejiri Adejenughure, Czech Republic’s Ondřej Penxa, England’s Mikey Moore and Poland’s Michael Izunwanne. However, only one player is still alive in the tournament: Rodrigo Mora.

 

By: Tomás Reis / @tomasmreis10

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / AC Milan

EmailLinkedIn