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The UEFA European Under-17 Championship begins in Cyprus on Monday and many teams will compete at their best in Europe. This will be a great opportunity for enthusiasts and scouts to catch a glimpse of some of the most talented young stars in action.
Ahead of the tournament, we take a look at the young players who could shine and the familiar names in the years to come.
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While Czech football has failed to reflect the stars of past generations, its under-17 team features some new faces that raise hopes of promise in the future.
The Slavia Naskos midfielder is yet to play for the first team, his inclusion in the club’s Europa League squad was a sign of confidence. Equipped with a variety of basic skills for a central midfielder: vision, smart first touch, ability to take care of the ball under pressure and take on warring sides: Naskos has a quick passing game and has the intelligence to point to the midfield with his number 6/number 8 attacking role.
Christodoulou, trained at the Paphos Academy in the west of the island, joined Sporting CP last summer and there are high hopes that a Portuguese education could turn the host country midfielder into a star in the long run.
Technically polite, decent with both feet and with a body that allows him to advance with the ball in crowded areas, the 17-year-old can deploy as the number 8, number 10 or even on the left wing. Also an artistic ball passer.
The explosive and tenacious striker has already generated excitement after making his first-team debut at the age of 16. In recent months, Cvetkovic has even played against groups such as Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League. A very instinctive goalscorer, you don’t need to wait a long time to shoot and his execution is as precise as it is powerful. Although not particularly tall (5 feet 8 inches), he outperforms his main flocks in one-on-one.
Since left-footed centre-backs are still in vogue at the elite level, the Ukrainian captain deserves special attention from Cypriot scouts. Dihtiar, who plays as a starter in Ukraine’s second division, stands out for his skills on the ball and his composure. For his age, he chooses smart passes to break the line. Being very capable with his weaker foot also allows him to have more passing options, and while there is still room for improvement in terms of positioning and safety, his overall game is incredibly well-rounded.
Recruited from Dortmund from Austrian club St. Petersburg. John’s, SanchezPölten in the last window of movement, the left winger brings liveliness, style and a wonderful detail in attack. Although he’s still learning, his skills recommend that the Champions League finalists might have some other gem on their hands. He temporarily moves around the court with wonderful strides, and his unpredictability in his one-on-one attacks is another attractive feature. The 16-year-old also presses well and can take a wonderful free-kick with his left foot.
Cutuk, another promising prospect for Dinamo Zagreb, scored twice against Germany before adding another brace against Ireland in the last mini-qualifying tournament. With similar goals in the Croatian youth league, it’s no surprise that several big European clubs have to see what the 17-year-old can offer. Technically excellent, with a silky touch of the ball, Cutuk is not only a goalscorer, but can also create chances with his fine dribbling and speed in wide areas.
Although Arsenal would likely have struggled to find a successful senior centre-forward in the transfer market, the answer can also be found in Hale End’s academy. In fact, Obi has been in good scoring form for the U18 team, with 32 goals in 18 games.
While it’s worth noting that his physical dominance provides him with a significant advantage over his peers at the youth level, there’s no doubt that Obi is a notable prospect. In addition to his clever speed and timely movements, he loves to play on the shoulders of defenders, and his calm finishing is normal for such a young man.
Signed via Arsenal amid the festival of other Premier League rivals this winter, Clarke has adapted well to the U18 squad. The much-loved defender made his U18 debut for Wolves at the age of 14 and is the remaining member of last season’s Welsh squad. U-17 final.
In addition to being tricky on the ball, Clarke also has a competitive merit to his game: he’s not afraid to attack, he anticipates incisively, and he doesn’t miss if the game gets physical. These leadership qualities, which he arguably would have inherited from his Nigel Quashie, his highly competitive father who played in the Premier League, will no doubt come in handy as his career progresses.
Camarda, who was already a global sensation when he was the youngest player in Serie A a few months before his 16th birthday, has been a prolific goalscorer for AC Milan in his youth stage and his impressive emergence has also attracted interest from European powerhouses.
There’s more to him than effortlessly finishing, though: he has a powerful build, a highly evolved link game, and his changeup speed can allow him to pull away from his opponents. A real centre-forward in the making.
One of the most outstanding members of the Polish national team, the captain and brilliant top scorer (10 goals in the U17) is dynamic and provides in midfield and has the gift of penetrating the opponent’s box from his number 8. /10. role. Adkonis, a professional set-piece specialist with a well-developed body for his age, recently signed with Legia’s first team and signed his first professional contract last month.
Introduced to the Slovakian squad earlier this year, Lusale brought a breath of fresh air in the final qualifying round in March and scored the decisive goal that allowed Slovakia to qualify for the final. Lusale may still be waiting for his breakthrough on the young Englishman. People play with Palace, but their exceptional acceleration, their relentless enthusiasm to beat defenders and their clever moves in the final third are qualities that will be the city’s communication.
Arguably one of the most entertaining full-backs on Europe’s junior circuit, Antwi’s combination of athleticism, elite dribbling and a positive intelligence is a feast for the eyes.
It’s incredibly tricky to get him involved because his pace, ambidexterity and with the ball at his feet allow him to decide a direction (along the line or in the middle) and pull forward, breaking several lines of tension. The Stockholm-born right-back has been at Chelsea since the age of 12 and before deciding on his country of birth, he also decided on the England Under-16 team.
The U-17 European Championship comes at an ideal time for Sunderland’s record prodigy, who can escape the constant assumptions that link him to Manchester United and Newcastle United.
To say that Rigg has announced himself on the senior football scene is an understatement, as he has already played 21 times in the championship this season. With a mix of impeccable footwork, superb passing diversity, excellent ball striking skills and a phenomenal attitude. and intensity (which he demonstrates as he pursues, approaches, and attacks), it’s no surprise that the fight for his signature is on.
Bouaddi has already established himself on the map with very promising performances in Ligue 1. In fact, just three days after his 16th birthday, he is the youngest player to play in a European club match.
While it would be early to place him in a unique position, it’s not hard to see that his exceptional ability to grab the ball, play it specifically and dictate procedures makes him ideal for a No. 6 playmaker role. The maturity of his game is also astounding. He does not shy away from his daily jobs and, endowed with delicacy, uses it for practical purposes.
Portugal swept the festival away en route to the final, winning all six qualifying matches. Coming from a team full of hope, the Sporting winger stands out as a revolutionary threat to a winger.
Due to his outrageous pace, relentless determination to exploit gaps in wide areas, and compact form, an applicable comparison might be to say that he looks like a left-handed Jeremy Doku. There would possibly be a more subtle and well-rounded ability in the Portuguese team, but Quenda is such a constant threat (he controlled almost three shots every 90 minutes in qualifying) and is full of results that he is bound to generate a lot of interest.
Even without Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, who are expected to be part of the senior squad for Euro 2024, Spain has a ridiculously impressive set of options. The selection of the Barcelona organization is Bernal, a deep midfielder who makes the team vibrate. Later in the summer, Bernal may even get a chance to impress Xavi as he assesses his squad for next season.
It’s no surprise that the young left-footer from La Masia, who has played in youth groups this season, is an elegant ball passer and has top-notch organisational ability. Not only is Bernal a classic number 6, but he also joins the attack, advancing thanks to it. to fast rallies and walls.