EURO 2024 — Young Players We Want to See Called Up (Group B)
Aging teams of Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania must bet on their promising youth to push past group stage.
Euro 2024’s Group B is the competition’s “undisputed group-of-death,” with the defending European champion Italy squaring off against 2022 World Cup 3rd place Croatia and UEFA Nations League reigning champion Spain. Joining these three football juggernauts is Albania in their only second appearance in a European championship (the first was in 2016).
Although these national teams will inevitably rely on the winning strategies and veterans that brought them their most recent accolades, they know that young disruptors may help tip the scales in their favor. In a group where there are no clear favorites, placing your hopes on the unexpected can pay off big time.
But who are the wildcards these countries can turn to? Here’s our list of players who should get a chance to make the difference in this Euro.
Spain
Pedri
Pedri has long been considered one of the finest midfielders Spain has produced in recent years, encompassing attributes and a playing style reminescent of Barcelona legends such as Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández. Having played almost every minute of every match in Spain’s Euro 2020 run, the then 18 year-old playmaker seemed to be destined for greatness.
But if we fast-forward to today, we see that Pedri’s path has since then been beset by a string of injuries that have sidelined the Spanish midfielder for over 400 days and 75 games at both club and national team level.
Having just been cleared from his latest injury at the beginning of April, Pedri remains an enigma for Spain’s final squad. The 21 year-old virtuoso is one of the most skilled central midfielders of this century, but can he stay fit for this last stretch of the season? Or will injury yet again be a setback in his path to greatness and deprive him of making history for his country?
Nico Williams
The youngest of Athletic Bilbao’s Williams Brothers, Nico is undoubtedly one of the rising stars in the Spanish football team, and is expected to take part in the 26-men final squad for this Euro.
Along with his brother Iñaki, the left winger has been instrumental in the Basque club’s excellent season in La Liga, capitalizing 4 goals and 9 assists in 27 appearances for Athletic Club. The Pamplona native has been called up frequently in recent years and will likely grace the group stage with his brand of exciting, incisive attacking football.
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal is the very definition of “wonderkid.”
At just age 16, the dribbling phenom has taken the Spanish league by storm and pushed Barcelona to a fight for championship glory with 4 goals and 6 assists in 32 games. With a left-footed, fast-paced style of play, the prodigious Yamal has already drawn comparisons with another legendary product of Barcelona’s youth academy — the one and only Leo Messi.
Having previously broken the record for the youngest player to debut and score for Spain in September 2023, Yamal is now in a position to beat most of the “youngest player” records at a UEFA Euro Championship, starting with that of “youngest player to appear” in a Euro match set by Polish midfielder Kacper Kozłowski at Euro 2020.
Samu Omorodion
It seems odd that we would find in Deportivo Alavés — a club struggling to leave the bottom half of La Liga — a forward with the talent and goal-scoring instinct to be called up to the Spanish national team.
Yet it is at Alavés that Samu Omorodion, a 19 year-old striker on loan from Atlético Madrid, has found the chance to shine well beyond most people’s expectations. The menace from Melilla has racked up 9 goals in 31 games to save Alavés from relegation woes and, perhaps, earn himself a debut for La Furia Roja in the upcoming Euro.
Pau Cubarsí
Another one of Barcelona’s youth academy players that have been the backbone of the blaugrana squad this season, Pau Cubarsí has a good chance of making history in this Euro.
The Catalan center-back has already represented Spain twice at just the age of 17 and seems to be in national team manager Luis de la Fuente’s plans for the final 26-men squad.
At a club level, Cubarsí has established himself as one of the cornerstones of Barcelona’s defensive line, having started almost every game since January of this year. We now hope to see the center-back revelation show his grit and toughness for national team glory in June.
Javi Guerra
An outsider in the race for a spot in the final squad call-up, Javi Guerra is nonetheless an exciting prospect that has sparked his hometown club Valencia CF with solid performances as an undisputed starting midfielder.
After climbing through Valencia’s youth and reserve teams in previous years, Guerra has had a tremendous debut season in the first team, contributing four goals and one assist in 31 appearances.
A Spain U21 international since September 2023, Guerra may see his efforts at a club level rewarded with a spot in the Euro squad — though he will have to contend with the competition of other big names in the center midfield.
Fermín Lopez
Yet another Barcelona player who has jumped onto the spotlight under Xavi’s management, Fermín Lopez is a name many expect to see representing Spain in this Euro.
The midfielder turning 21 years old this week has enjoyed a strong form as of late, with 4 goals in the last 10 league games for the Catalan side. Like other names on this list, Lopez is running into some tough competition for a CM spot in the final squad, but his solid performances and flexibility to play on the left wing may see him make the callup.
Croatia
Joško Gvardiol
Joško Gvardiol was 19 years old when he represented Croatia in Euro 2020, showcasing his left-back skills at the international stage. Not only did he cement his place as a starting defender in the Croatian team, but his performances were part of the reason why Leipzig paid over €35 million to sign him from Dinamo Zagreb.
Just three years later, Gvardiol will most likely return to the Euro stage as Croatia’s starting left-back, coming from his first season at Manchester City — the English club having signed him for €90 million! The 22 year-old defender has been extensively utilized by Pep Guardiola in Man City’s quest to renew their Premier League title, and should have a major role in Croatia’s quest to European championship glory.
Martin Baturina
Dinamo Zagreb has been known to field some of the best Croatian talents in recent years, and Martin Baturina is no exception. The 21 year-old midfielder debuted this season for the Croatian first team after consistent appearances at club and national U21 level.
Since the 2022/23, Baturina has played a key role in Zagreb’s midfield. In the last two seasons he has made over sixty league appearances, contributing with 11 goals and 21 assists to his name. Having been given the opportunity to represent Croatia in the Euro qualifiers, it is likely that we will see him in the 26-men squad heading to Germany.
Luka Sučić
Another young midfielder likely to play for the Kockasti in June is Luka Sučić, the RB Salsburg playmaker.
Despite having debuted for the senior national team in 2021, Sučić has only 5 caps to his name — he stayed in the bench for the entire 2022 World Cup and has seen his playing time in the last two seasons significantly shortened by a knee surgery and further injuries.
Nevertheless, the center midfielder has managed to make 20 league appearances at Salzburg this year, providing the club with a goal and five assists. Hopefully he can stay healthy throughout the remainder of the season and take part in Croatia’s definitive callup.
Ante Crnac
An improbable choice to feature in this Euro’s national team squad, Ante Crnac is nonetheless a young Croatian player who has enjoyed a sensational debut season in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Despite being a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s academy, Crnac never went beyond the 2nd team, leaving the club in early 2022 for Slaven Belupo. There he was given the chance to play at the top level in Croatia, and his regular playing time and goal contributions led Polish side Raków Częstochowa to sign him at the beginning of 2023/24 season.
With 6 goals and 5 assists in 23 league appearances this season, Crnac is still an unlikely candidate to a spot in the final squad, but his performance in the Polish league shows he may grow to play a consistent role in Croatia’s national team.
Igor Matanović
Another young player who probably won’t make the cut (but we still would like to see playing in the Euro) is the Karlsruher SC top scorer Igor Matanović. On loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, Matanović has had an excellent season in the 2. Bundesliga, scoring 14 goals and making 6 assists in 30 games.
The center-forward has been in tremendous shape all throughout the season and is expected to take bigger responsibilities in the Frankfurt squad next season. Matanović, already an international for Croatia’s U21 team, may see a debut for the senior team come his way very soon — even if not in this Euro’s time.
Italy
Giorgio Scalvini
A prominent piece of Atalanta’s defensive line, the 20 year-old Giorgio Scalvini is already regarded as Italy’s next great center-back and the successor to another Giorgio — last name Chiellini — as an elite starting player in the national team.
With already 8 caps to his name, we reckon Scalvini will be used extensively by Luciano Spalletti to enforce the tight defense Italy is known for.
Matteo Ruggeri
Another Atalanta prospect with the potential to be called up is the 21 year-old Matteo Ruggeri, who has also made himself a part of the Italian club’s starting XI.
Ruggeri has contributed to Atalanta’s fight for a Top 3 place in Serie A with 5 assists in 31 games this season (as of now). Hopefully we’ll be able to see him debut for Italy in June, though competition in the midfield may prove too strong this moment in time.
Edoardo Bove
Six months ago, Edoardo Bove’s debut for Italy’s 1st team seemed to be coming at any moment. But now it is unlikely to come anytime soon.
Bove had been one of the AS Roma players that José Mourinho had trusted and utilized the most throughout this season up until his very departure. Under de Rossi’s administration, however, Bove has seen his time on the pitch dwindle rather quickly.
Formerly a consistent starter, the 21 year-old central midfielder has since been relegated to the bench, with the occasional sub in. With only 2 assists to his name in 28 league appearances, Bove’s odds of making the final callup are almost non-existent, yet the squad expansion to 26 players may open a place for him to have his long-awaited 1st team debut in June.
Wilfried Gnonto
Despite being no stranger to the Italian national team, Wilfried Gnonto has of late struggled to maintain his presence among Gli Azzurri.
The 20 year-old right winger has had a decent run in his second season at Leeds United, contributing with 8 goals and 2 assists in 36 games since the West Yorkshire club returned to the second tier of English football.
Nevertheless, this probably will not suffice to take Gnonto to the Euro this summer. The fact that the winger has been relegated to Italy’s U21 team since November further indicates he may not be in Spalletti’s plans for the final 26-men squad — but we would love to see this 20 year-old to take part in Italy’s attempt to defend their European championship title.
Michael Kayode
At the beginning of the current season Fiorentina brought Michael Kayode to the 1st team — a decision that has paid off big time for the club, as the 19 year-old right-back quickly affirmed himself as a consistent starter.
A well-rounded two-way player with a bright future ahead of him, Michael Kayode has made 24 appearances in Serie A and tallied one goal and two assists to his name. It may be difficult for the young right-back to make his national team debut at the Euro, but we hope to see Kayode — already an Italian international at the U21 level — make Spalletti’s callup.
Albania
Armando Broja
With already 19 caps and 4 goals for the Albanian national team, Armando Broja is expected to play a prominent role for the Kuqezinjtë this summer.
At just 22 years old, Broja is one of Albania’s biggest names in European football. Having been at Chelsea FC for over ten years, the Albanian forward has struggled to maintain a place in the 1st team squad and has been constantly loaned off by the Blues.
While some of these loans saw Broja shine at SBV Vitesse and Southampton, his current season — partly spent on loan to Fulham — has been a new low in his career. Injury woes and lack of games as a starter has left Broja with less than 600 minutes played in 20 league appearances, with only a single goal and a single assist.
Nevertheless, we expect the young forward to prove his worth in this Euro and lead Albania’s offensive output as the double-headed eagles fight a steep uphill battle to move past group stage.
Kristjan Asllani
Another extremely talented 22 year-old Albanian player who has struggled to get playing minutes at club level is Kristjan Asllani. The defensive midfielder has everything to be a starter at Inter Milan, and he might have been one this season were it not for his teammate Hakan Çalhanoğlu and his monumental output of 13 goals and 3 assists in 30 appearances.
Asllani will hopefully have the oppportunity to shine at the national team level this Euro, as his name is expected to be on Albanian’s definitive squad for the tournament.
Mario Mitaj
20 year-old Mario Mitaj is yet another young player we assume to be integrated in Albania’s final callup roll. The versatile left-back has been frequently featured in the starting XI of Russian Premier Liga side Lokomotiv Moscow, which is an unlikely but still possible candidate to win the league.
Often used out of position as a left midfielder or a defensive midfielder, Mitaj may bring to the Albanian a depth that is always welcome in a competition as intense as the Euro.
