The finest young players in Europe are set to do battle as the 2015 U21 European Championship kicks off in Czech Republic this week. The competition allows fans to cast a watchful eye on the hottest upcoming talent on the continent in the tournament. With that in mind, we at WhoScored.com have picked out five players who could be key for their team this summer.
The Danish midfielder spent the season on loan with Augsburg last season and impressed when handed the opportunity to so do. The Bayern Munich youngster is highly thought of at the Bundesliga champions and the summer tournament could convince Pep Guardiola to retain his services for the upcoming campaign, especially if Bastian Schweinsteiger departs the Allianz Arena, as has been reported.
Höjbjerg is seen as the natural successor to Schweinsteiger’s throne at Bayern and his displays for Augsburg suggest he could be ready to make the step up. An 80.1% pass success rate may not have been as impressive as Schweinsteiger (87.7%) in Germany’s top tier last term, but is a respectable return for the 19-year-old, who boasts a number of ideal statistically calculated WhoScored strengths for a midfielder.
Expected to play a central role for the Danes this summer, Höjbjerg has the ability to drag Jess Thorup’s out of Group A and into the next round of the European Championship. If he can replicate his club form on the international stage, expect Denmark to be an exciting team to watch, with Höjbjerg pulling the strings from the middle of the park.
In the same group as Höjbjerg’s Denmark, Johannes Geis’ Germany come into the tournament as favourites to lift the trophy this summer. Like Höjbjerg for Denamrk, Geis is tipped to run the show in midfield for Horst Hrubesch’s team. The 21-year-old was one of the best-rated players (7.33) in the Bundesliga last term after a notable campaign for Mainz 05.
The 21-year-old midfielder played more key passes from set pieces (56) than any other player in the top division of German football last season, reinforcing his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘taking set pieces’. Linked with moves to Lazio, Schalke and Dortmund, interest in Geis could rise significantly if he lives up to expectations for the U21 national team.
Germany are expected to top their group at the competition, with Geis’ creative quality tipped to lead them to glory. The youngster is beginning to realise his potential and a strong showing in the Czech Republic will go a long way to seeing this Germany U21 team crowned European U21 champions.
It was another superb season for Domenico Berardi at Sassuolo as the young striker spearheaded the attack with ruthless efficiency once more. Only Mauro Icardi (28) and Carlos Tévez (27) were directly involved in more goals than Berardi (25) in Serie A last term, while no player registered more assists (10) than the youngster and one was of only three players to reach double figures for goals and assists in Italy's top-flight last season. Given Sassuolo scored just 49 league goals, the 20-year-old’s input for the club was vital.
A WhoScored rating of 7.31 ranked among the top 20 players in the most recent Serie A campaign and will appeal to parent club Juventus, who have loaned Berardi to Sassuolo for the last two seasons. However, following the big money acquisition of Paulo Dybala, coupled with the striking options available to Max Allegri, it remains to be seen how Berardi - at this current point in time - fits in at the Juventus Stadium.
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The Champions League runners’ up would be loathe to losing such a hot prospect, though another loan move to a bigger team on the continent could be on the cards, especially if Juventus retain the services of Tévez. A strong showing for the Azzurrini would see his already long list of admirers grow, with potential suitors willing to test the Old Lady’s resolve to keep hold of Berardi.
The breakthrough youngster of the Premier League campaign, much is riding on the striking performances of Tottenham’s Harry Kane for England this summer. Only Sergio Agüero (26) scored more league goals than Kane (21) in the Premier League last term, and Gareth Southgate will now hope he can replicate his goalscoring exploits for the U21 side.
Kane’s goals gained more points (23) than any other player in England’s top tier last season, with the 21-year-old clearly capable of netting when it matters most. This facet could prove to be crucial in Group B, with this deemed the toughest of the two groups at the competition. If it comes to it, Kane clearly has a knack of netting at the right time to secure the spoils.
His positive hold up play will bring others into action and help drive England forward in the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, 13 clear-cut chances scored hints at Kane’s ability to move into decent goalscoring positions. Should he do similar for the national team this summer, Southgate’s team have a much better chance of securing silverware.
Bernardo Silva enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign for Monaco following his loan move from Benfica and the club were understandably convinced by his performances early on, parting ways with €15m to make his move permanent at the turn of the year. 9 goals and a further 3 assists were enough to see the 20-year-old gain a WhoScored rating of 7.23, which ranked among the top 50 players in Ligue 1 last season, an impressive return in his debut campaign in France.
Silva’s low centre of gravity means he is a difficult player to stop when he gains a head of steam, with his directness a huge asset for Monaco. This facet of his game helped Les Rouges et Blancs to a third-placed finish in France’s top tier, securing a Champions League return in the process.
In a group with England, Italy and Sweden, Silva needs to be at his scintillating best to help Portugal progress to the next round. Capable of performing on either flank or in behind the striker, this versatility in attack will be an asset to head coach Rui Jorge. Silva boasts the offensive qualities to be a resounding success at the U21 Euros and should Portugal progress from Group B; chances are the Monaco star will have been central to their attacking efforts.
Which players are you looking forward to seeing at the U21 European Championship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
