With under two weeks until UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off, here is a guide to 14 must-watch players at the tournament.
Over 600 players are set to feature at this summer’s Euros across 24 teams which means that it can be tough to keep track of which players to watch out for throughout the tournament, especially for neutral fans.
I have therefore picked out 14 players who definitely will be worth the closer focus across Euro 2024 in an exciting summer of European football.
Harry Kane (England)
Although trophies have a passion of eluding Harry Kane’s grasp at both club and international level, he comes into the tournament as a red-hot striker to watch out for with 48 goals and 13 assists in total for Bayern Munich and England this season.
Kane however has scored just six goals combined across his last two major tournaments for England – just as many as he managed in the entire 2018 FIFA World Cup, so all eyes will be on him to raise his game especially after his best goalscoring campaign yet.
Hopes also are high amongst fans and pundits alike that this is England’s time but Kane will need to find another major tournament level to deliver his first major trophy, especially given that he is part of an exciting attack tipped for great things in Germany this summer.
Phil Foden (England)
Having enjoyed consistency in recent seasons, Phil Foden took his game to the next level with 40 goal involvements this season for club and country – 27 goals and 13 assists, underlining why he is considered one of England’s best players coming into the tournament.
Foden also poses a tactical headache for England boss, Gareth Southgate because he can play across the front three and as both a central midfielder and attacking midfielder – where he has been at his best, which could mean interesting tactical selections for England from game to game.
If England can extract maximum quality from Foden through their tactics then there is little doubt that he will be up there as a stand-out star this summer.
Cole Palmer (England)
After firmly establishing himself as a huge attacking midfield talent with his physicality and clinical end product in a break-through rookie season at Chelsea, Cole Palmer certainly will be a player to watch across the Euros.
From his pace to ball control and awareness in passing moves, Palmer has certainly proved himself as a huge attacking threat with a polished end product to trouble any sloppy defences, which is underlined by 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances for Chelsea.
Now if the 22 year-old can bring that form onto the international stage then he could certainly be a huge young talent for fans to keep an eye on, although this is his first major international tournament which will bring its own challenges.
Jude Bellingham (England)
At just 20 years-old, England’s Jude Bellingham enters this tournament as football’s current Golden Boy after a stunning debut season at Real Madrid – in which he played a part in their treble with 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
With the full package of physicality, technicality, versatility and vision within his skillset with incredible confidence, Bellingham promises to be a top midfielder at this tournament because he won’t be an easy player to quieten in individual matches.
In fact if Southgate can extract maximum performance from both him and Foden then England are going to be a terrifying prospect for any opposition to stop this summer, because those two are in the form of their lives now.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia)
Although nobody expects Serbia to be title contenders at this tournament, they do possess a top in-form striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic who can’t be underestimated such is his combined tally of 44 goals for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Serbia this season.
Serbia are in a tough group with England, Denmark and Slovenia but with Mitrovic up top, he will surely be key to their chances of a deep run if he can take his form into the tournament and will pose familiar opposition for many England players in their group clash.
Rasmus Højlund (Denmark)
Although this season has proven to be tough at times for Rasmus Højlund at Manchester United in which he managed 16 goals for the Red Devils plus one goal for Denmark, he is still a top young talent who comes into this tournament off his strongest campaign yet.
The 21 year-old though has fared better on the European stage for Utd than domestically which could well be a small positive, in that he will surely not be fazed by his first major European tournament with Denmark so expect him to be a player to watch out for amongst the youth.
Scott McTominay (Scotland)
Having enjoyed his best season yet for club and country, Scott McTominay could well be a key player for Scotland at the tournament after he finished Scotland’s Qualifying group as the top goalscorer with seven goals.
The midfielder has also enjoyed his best season yet with 10 goals and three assists for Utd so is coming into this tournament with confidence, although he must hit the ground running given how difficult Scotland’s group is – with Germany, Switzerland and Hungary posing tough opposition.
Florian Wirtz (Germany)
Although he is just 21 years-old, Wirtz has proven himself as a huge threat with 19 goals and 21 assists for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany this season, during which Leverkusen achieved a domestic double.
Euro 2024 though marks Wirtz’s first senior tournament but after a breakthrough season where he has proven difficult to handle, he might just be the fresh attacking spark to spearhead Germany’s title push on home soil.
Kai Havertz (Germany)
Although he isn’t a regular goalscorer for Arsenal or Germany, Havertz certainly seems to have found his best form in a few years this season with 16 goals and 8 assists for club and country, making him a potentially important player for the tournament hosts.
Havertz also brings tactical versatility for Germany given his ability to mainly play up front or in central midfield – although he has also played at left-back for Germany, which will be of huge importance if the tournament hosts are to go deep on home soil.
Gianluca Scamacca (Italy)
After enduring a difficult 2022-23 season at West Ham, Italy’s Scamacca has found his groove at Atalanta with his best season yet – in which he managed 20 goals and seven assists for club and country plus helped Atalanta snatch a surprise Europa League title.
Scamacca though will need to be at his clinical best if Italy want to defend their title after ending up in a nightmare group with Albania, Croatia and Spain.
Bart Verbruggen (Netherlands)
At just 21 years-old, Bart Verbruggen has seven international caps to his name as he prepares for his first tournament with Netherlands, in what could be a breakthrough summer for the youngster.
The first-choice goalkeeper role for Netherlands is also up for grabs with Verbruggen, Mark Flekken and Justin Bijlow having just 20 caps between them ahead of the warm-up friendlies, which offers the youngster a chance to stake his claim as the no.1 keeper.
If he can secure the starting spot in goal going into the tournament then Verbruggen definitely will be a player to watch, given his potential and freshness due to Brighton’s goalkeeping rotation policy although he established himself as first choice at the end of season with a solid run.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
As France’s central talisman, Kylian Mbappe will certainly be a lead star to watch this summer after he was involved in 66 goals for PSG and France this season – having scored 50 goals and created 16 assists in another consistent season by his lofty standards.
Mbappe however is on the move to Real Madrid post-tournament so he will certainly look to lay an impressive marker across the Euros, especially after his exploits at the 2022 FIFA World Cup so he can surely only be more dangerous for oppositional defences now.
To put it simple, Mbappe won’t be a player who will be quietly coasting through the tournament given his fearsome attacking versatility.
Leandro Trossard (Belgium)
Although he isn’t exactly a top name when think of Belgium nor Arsenal for that matter, Leandro Trossard is a player who could well be the Belgian Red Devils’ top weapon because he knows how to deliver the goals in tough-looking games.
Trossard is also coming into the Euros off the back of his best goalscoring season in a decade and if he can be as clinical as he has been lately, he could well be the game-changer that Belgium need with his excellently well-timed runs and end product.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Despite having already won this competition in 2016 with Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo can’t be underestimated even at 39 years-old as he looks for more success.
If anyone had any doubts about Ronaldo’s ability at his age then 55 goals in 54 appearances for club and country blows any fears away, because this Portuguese international certainly promises to be a difficult threat for oppositional defences if he stays fit and can deliver goals.
Leave a Reply