If there’s been one single defining feature of Euro 2024 thus far, it’s been the volume of young players stepping up to put in world class performances for their nations.
From 16-year-old Spanish wingers to 19-year-old English midfield orchestrators, there’s been a huge amount of youngsters making their mark on the tournament.
As part of 90min’s 24 for 24 series, here’s our picks for the best performing young players of the quarter-finals.
Jamal Musiala was the star of Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign, but it was fellow youngster Florian Wirtz who impressed most in the quarter-final defeat to Spain.
The Bayer Leverkusen star scored a late, late equaliser to take the game to extra time and caused the Spanish backline problems in Stuttgart.
Was the quarter-final Nico Williams’ least eye-catching performance of Euro 2024?
Yeah, probably.
That’s not to say the youngster didn’t play well though. He was as impressive as ever on the left flank and stretched the German backline well with his pace.
Considering how bloody brilliant he is, it is a bit of a surprise that Eduardo Camavinga had to wait until the quarter-finals to make his first start of Euro 2024.
The midfielder certainly took his chance with both hands though, winning four duels and completing nine defensive actions in an all-action display.
Kobbie Mainoo looks to have secured a place in the England starting XI for the foreseeable future.
And he’s done that by playing really well.
The Man Utd starlet was once again strong in the tackle and solid in possession in his nation’s win over Switzerland at the weekend.
Arda Guler may have been the breakout star of Euro 2024.
The Real Madrid youngster’s stock has risen tenfold in Germany this summer, and that’s been thanks to performances like the one he put in against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals – a game in which bagged yet another assist.
Have we ever called a 16-year-old ‘world class’ before?
After Lamine Yamal’s performance in the win over Germany, we might just have to.
The youngster is a genuine phenomenon.
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