The League D youngsters to impress in the UEFA Nations League

 

League D of the UEFA Nations League perhaps didn’t get the attention it deserved given the vast array of talent in both League A and League B. That being said, the UEFA Nations League’s bottom league has ample quality, particularly in those up and coming stars. Here, we run through five players aged 23 and under who impressed for their country in the UEFA Nations League group stages that may have flown under the radar. 

 

Giorgi Chakvetadze - Georgia 

 

Georgia absolutely dominated group 1 in League D, picking up 16 of 18 available points on their way to top spot and promotion to league C. Three of the top four best-rated players in the group play for Georgia, but it was 19-year-old Giorgi Chakvetadze that was the star of the show for Vladimir Weiss’ side. 

 

The teenage winger earned a better WhoScored rating (8.17) than any other player in group 1 having scored four and assisted two for Georgia. His performances have not gone unnoticed either, with Barcelona, Tottenham and Bayern Munich all reportedly showing an interest in the Gent wideman, who has four league goals to his name this season. 

 

 

He earned the WhoScored man of the match award in three of his six appearances, as he maximised his ability to cut in from the left, with three of his four goals coming via his wicked right foot from the left flank. Chakvetadze ranked highly for key passes (15) and top for successful dribbles (18) in League D, though considering Georgia’s opponents in group 1, that should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt. There is room for improvement to his game, as is to be expected for any player his age, yet with his contract up next summer, it’s likely the Georgian will be taking the next step in his young career sooner rather than later. 

 

Daniel Sinani - Luxembourg 

 

Making the WhoScored best-rated XI of League D is Luxembourg’s 21-year-old attacker Daniel Sinani. The European minnows scored just 11 goals in group 2, missing out on top spot to Belarus by four points, but Sinani was in excellent form as he scored three and assisted three for the Red Lions. He made just one start as a striker for Luxembourg in the UEFA Nations League, but even so, he turned out a man of the match display in a 3-0 win over San Marino. 

 

 

In his more familiar number 10 role, Sinani excelled as he gained a WhoScored rating of 8.03 from his three starts in the position. His Europa League form leaves little to the imagination, yet at his age, there is more to come from the Luxembourgian. He’ll be hoping his UEFA Nations League outings weren’t a mere flash in the pan and it could prove to be the catalyst to help end F91 Dudelange’s Europa League campaign on a high. 

 

Christopher Martins Pereira - Luxembourg 

 

Remaining with Luxembourg and this time with Christopher Martins Pereira, who, like Sinani, was also impressive for the group 2 side. The 21-year-old came away from the competition with a WhoScored rating of 7.51 from his five outings as he scored once, that coming in a resounding 4-0 win over Moldova. 

 

Not a regular goalscorer by trade - Martins Pereira has scored just one league goal for mid-table Ligue 2 side Troyes this season - it was his defensive work that helped push his score so high. Indeed, the youngster chipped in with returns of two tackles and 2.8 interceptions per game for Luxembourg. His composure on the ball, too, was commendable as he returned a 85% pass success rate from 57.4 passes per game. Like Sinani, he’ll hope to now push on for his club side following a successful UEFA Nations League run and perhaps earn a move to take the next step of his career. 

 

Milot Rashica - Kosovo 

 

In 2014, Kosovo were accepted by FIFA and won just four games in the next four years. Fast forward to the present day and they are now unbeaten over the last 12 months and gained promotion to League C of the UEFA Nations League after earning 14 points of 18 available. A host of players excelled for Kosovo in the competition, with eight of the top 10 best-rated players all turning out for the Dardanians, as youngster Milot Rashica churned out six superb displays in group C. 

 

The 22-year-old has struggled for game time with Bundesliga high-flyers Werder Bremen this season, registering just 92 minutes of league action, yet that didn’t stop him from tearing opponents apart on the international stage. Indeed, Rashica scored two and registered three assists for group topping Kosovo to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.47. Having failed to force his way into the Werder Bremen side, Rashica will hope his international form will grant him the chance to really prove his worth for the German side when the opportunity arises. 

 

Enis Bardhi - Macedonia 

 

A more familiar face to round off this list, Macedonia, like Georgia and Kosovo, romped to top spot in group 4 as they earned 15 of 18 points available. A key player in their successful promotion push was 23-year-old attacker Enis Bardhi, who has become somewhat renowned for his long range goals. Indeed, his two goals in the UEFA Nations League were both from outside of the box to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.56. 

 

However, it was his work off the ball that really caught the eye as Bardhi ranked second for tackles (14) and among the top 10 players for interceptions (7) to help reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘defensive contribution’. His Levante form may be a little underwhelming this season, but Bardhi proved his credentials on the international stage during the group stages of the competition, ultimately playing a central role in Macedonia’s promotion to League C. If he can rediscover his best league form now, then it won’t be long before we see the Bardhi that rattled in nine league goals last season and proved to be one of Macedonia’s key men over recent months.

The League D youngsters to impress in the UEFA Nations League