EURO 2024 — Young Players We Want to See Called Up (Group C)
England and Denmark are expected to bring more than a few talented wonderkids, though Serbia and Slovenia have a few surprises of their own.
Group C sees The Three Lions as the undisputed favorites to move past the group stage — and perhaps, winning the tournament in an effort to redeem themselves from last Euro’s woes.
As always, England will be bringing a competitive squad with more than enough potential to be crowned European champions — but do they have what it takes to finish the job? Or are they doomed to a re-run of what happened in 2021?
The rest of the teams in Group C — Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia — are not seen as real threats to England nor to any other favorite to win the tournament. Nevertheless, we expect these nations to bring out their very best for a chance at reaching the knockout stage.
Of these three countries, Denmark will arguably be the one with the largest pool of players under 21 years old in the final squad. While it’s unlikely that the Danish Dynamite will be repeating its 1992 achivement, the general feeling that Denmark is building a squad made up of future world-class players is palpable.
As for Serbia and Slovenia, the South Slavic nations are assumed to bring a sparse number of players 21 years old and younger, preferring instead to call up more experienced players who are well-seasoned in international competitions at a national team level. Nevertheless, there is definitely room for two or three young stars to break through the age barrier and help their squads’ efforts to move past the group stage!
England
Jude Bellingham
Words cannot do Jude Bellingham’s growth as a player enough justice.
The 20 year-old from Stourbridge had just finished his first season at Borussia Dortmund around the time of Euro 2020. Even though he didn’t even play a whole hour in that tournament, it was enough to impress and amaze some of the fans who at the time saw the youngster shine with England’s jersey.
Three years and two dozen caps later, Jude Bellingham will return to the Euro stage an undisputed starter, a star player in England’s squad, a LaLiga champion — and maybe even a UEFA Champions League winner, if all goes well with Real Madrid on June 1st.
The unstoppable midfielder has provided Real Madrid with 19 goals and 4 assists in 27 LaLiga appearances, plus another 4 goals and 4 assists in 10 Champions League games.
In this year’s Euro, Bellingham is expected to play well beyond an hour in his first game alone. English fans want to see the midfielder’s outstanding performances at club level carried on for the national team in this Euro; they are counting on the kid from the West Midlands to bring football home this time around — and if anyone can deliver, it’s him.
Bukayo Saka
Saka is another young English footballer who tasted bitter defeat at Euro 2020 final. Having stolen the show with his intense, attacking style of play, the then 19 year-old winger did all he could to give England the victor’s glory, but it still was not enough.
Now on the verge of becoming Premier League champion for Arsenal FC, Bukayo Saka is determined to avenge the Three Lions — and himself — from the dire loss in the previous Euro final.
A more mature winger with the ability and drive to threaten even the most stalwart defensive line, Saka will be a fundamental key to England’s success in this year’s tournament. If his stats at club level are anything to go by — 16 goals and 9 assists in 35 Premier League appearances, plus 4 goals and 4 assists in 9 UEFA CL games — then England has in Saka a lethal starting forward for its final call-up.
Cole Palmer
The breakthrough season of Cole Palmer is one of those stories that make football one of the most beloved sports of the planet.
Since his transfer from his home club of Manchester City to Chelsea — a sour departure that, according to the player himself, he did not fully want — Palmer has been an absolute Premier League sensation.
Under the leadership of Man City’s Pep Guardiola the young midfielder only played about 400 minutes in the Premier League between 2021 and 2023; since joining Chelsea this season, Palmer has played over six times those many minutes, and has played every PL game but two.
With 22 goals and 10 assists in 33 PL appearances, Palmer is a sure pick for England’s Euro 2024 squad. While there is plenty of competition for a spot in the starting XI, Palmer’s presence in the final call-up is undeniable given his outstanding season for the Blues.
Rico Lewis
If the previous young players are assumed to be undisputable picks for the England’s Euro 2024 squad, Rico Lewis’ case is less certain.
Despite having already debuted for the senior national team back in November, Lewis is still seen as an outlier. Competition from more qualified and proven players such as his teammate Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold are a major deterrent for the 19 year-old right-back.
Nevertheless — and in spite of his lack of playing minutes throughout this season — we would love to see the young Manchester City defender join the final squad and get a break to show his quality at the Euro.
Noni Madueke
Another young player who may struggle to find a vacant spot in England’s Euro squad is Chelsea’s right winger Noni Madueke.
Having spent a good portion of this season either injured or on the Blues’ bench, Madueke seems an unlikely choice at the moment. Despite producing a string of solid performances since the beginning of April, the winger — who has yet to debut for England’s senior team — has totalled less than a thousand minutes in 22 appearances for the London club, and recorded only 5 goals and 2 assists in the process.
In the face of competition from more reliable options like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Jarrod Bowen, Madueke’s odds of making the call-up are abysmal at best, but it would be great for the 22 year-old winger to make his debut for England this summer in Germany.
Jarrad Branthwaite
Along with Nathan Patterson from Group A’s Scotland, Jarrad Branthwaite is another Everton defender we want to see playing in this year’s Euro.
The 21 year-old center-back has been the defensive anchor of the Merseyside club as they fight to stay away from relegation. Branthwaite has started in 34 appearances and been subbed off only once; on the offensive end, the center-back has contributed with 3 goals.
While other, more experienced center-backs will also be present in England’s final squad, Branthwaite is expected to join them and represent the Three Lions in their 12th appearance in a Euro tournament.
Denmark
Rasmus Højlund
The star of Denmark’s national team (apart from the living legend that is Christian Eriksen), Rasmus Højlund will be leading the Danish attacking end in their quest to move on to the knockout stage and repeat in 2024 what Denmark accomplished in 1992.
Højlund’s season has been one of struggle and adaptation, as his club Manchester United goes through arguably its worst season in Premier League history. Having scored only 9 goals in 29 PL appearances, Højlund has been regarded as yet another example in a long list of Man United overpriced transfers that have ultimately failed to stop the club’s decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit in 2013.
Fortunately for Højlund, Denmark’s squad is not Manchester United’s, and he will have a chance to prove yet again his quality as a forward at the national team level. But does he have what it takes to lead Denmark past group stage? It is a lot of responsibility in the shoulders of this 21 year-old, but we hope he can do it!
Victor Kristiansen
In almost direct contrast to Rasmus Højlund, the 21 year-old Victor Kristiansen has had a more subtle — but no less positive — season as the starting left-back of Serie A underdog sensation Bologna FC.
With 4 assists and 2,222 minutes in 31 appearances for Bologna, Victor Kristiansen has helped the Italian club reach as far as 3rd place in the Serie A table, with only two games left to end the season.
The left-back, on loan from EFL Championship winners Leicester City, is expected to take his skill and grit to a much-deserved starting spot in Denmark’s squad this summer.
Elias Jelert
Opposite to Kristiansen in Denmark’s defensive line is 20 year-old right-back Elias Jelert, who has also been a key player at club level this season.
Jelert has risen through FC Copenhagen’s youth ranks to become an indispensable starter in the 1st team. Despite his low goal contribution, the young right-back has played nearly every match this season and is set to shine on the European Championship stage with the Danish national team.
Patrick Dorgu
While on the topic of Danish fullbacks, we should definitely be paying attention to Patrick Dorgu.
Acquired by Lecce in the summer of 2023, the 19 year-old left-back has been a regular presence in the Italian club’s line-up. A flexible defender who can play on both wings and move up the field if necessary, Dorgu may very well be in Denmark’s final call-up and have the opportunity to debut in Germany.
Thomas Kristensen
A juggernaut standing at about 1.98m (6'6"), Thomas Kristensen is yet another Danish defender who has sought his fortune in Serie A.
Representing Udinese Calcio starting this 2023/24 season, Kristensen has played 24 Serie A games and contributed with a single assist. While Udinese has been on the verge of relegation for most of the season, Kristensen has not failed to be an integral part of the starting XI.
The 22 year-old defender has yet to debut for Denmark’s national team and faces strong competition for a center-back spot in the Danish Euro squad, having to contend with the likes of Simon Kjaer, Jannik Vestergaard, Joachim Andersen and Victor Nelsson. We nevertheless hope to see Kristensen make the 26-men call-up and debut for Denmark this summer.
Serbia
Lazar Samardžić
Kristensen is not the only Udinese youngster with a chance at playing in the Euro.
Serbian midfielder and 2022 Golden Boy nominee Lazar Samardžić is expected to represent his home country in this Euro, adding at least 3 caps to the 7 he already has.
The 22 year-old has scored 5 goals and contributed with 2 assists in 32 Serie A games — a very positive output for a central-midfielder in a team that is trying to avoid relegation.
It is imperative for Serbia that Samardžić carry these good performances on to the Euro stage, as the Orlovi face an uphill battle to ensure they advance to the knockout stage.
Samed Baždar
One of Partizan Belgrade’s emergent talents, Samed Baždar is well on his path for a spot in Serbia’s Euro squad.
Ever since he got a starting spot as center-forward in Partizan’s league matches, Baždar has been a go-to player in the Serbian club. With 7 goals in his last 12 appearances, the 20 year-old forward has a good chance of being called up by Serbia’s manager Dragan Stojković, who had given the player his debut back in March in a friendly match against Cyprus.
Strahinja Pavlović
Another former Golden Boy nominee from Serbian, Strahinja Pavlović is a given in the country’s national team for this Euro.
The 22 year-old center-back already has 33 caps and 3 goals for the Eagles, and continues to put out solid performances at a club level with RB Salzburg, having scored 2 goals and made 3 assists in 25 Austrian Bundesliga games.
With the size and skill to lead Serbia’s defensive line, Pavlović will no doubt be crucial for his national team’s attempt to resist the attacking prowess of the other countries in Group C.
Petar Ratkov
While Pavlović’s place in the Serbian final squad for the Euro is undisputable, Petar Ratkov’s is not quite so certain.
The forward — also from RB Salzburg — has scored 5 goals and made 3 assists in 23 league appearances at club level, yet has been largely employed by the Austrian club as a backup player.
Despite having debuted for Serbia back in October 2023, the 20 year-old Belgrade native has not played again for the senior team since then, and now sees his place in the squad contested by rising talents such as Samed Bazdar. While the future looks bright for Ratkov, he may have to wait a few more years for another opportunity to shine at an European championship.
Igor Miladinović
While Serbian league football is still dominated by the Belgrade clubs Red Star and Partizan, 20 year-old midfielder Igor Miladinović has given FK Cukaricki a modicum of hope.
With 10 goals and 4 assists in 29 appearances during the regular season, Miladinovic has been a revelation in the Serbian SuperLiga. Despite the immense competition he faces in the midfield, it would be great to see the Cukaricki sensation debut for his country in this Euro’s group stage.
Slovenia
Benjamin Šeško
Long regarded as one of the most promising talents in Slovenian football, Benjamin Šeško is expected to be in his country’s final squad for Euro.
Having moved to RB Leipzig last summer, the striker has helped the German club fight for a spot in Bundesliga’s top 5, scoring 13 goals and making 2 assists in 30 league appearances.
While the odds of Slovenia moving past the group stage look dire, we hope Šeško will be able to contribute in a way that helps Slovenia advance to the round of 16.
Mitja Ilenič
At just 19 years-old, Mitja Ilenič is already the starting right-back of MLS side New York City FC and has a bright future ahead of him — both at club and national team level.
After debuting for Slovenia’s senior national team in January, Ilenič may be a possible candidate to spot in the 26-men squad expansion. Competition for a starting right-back place is tough, though, and if Ilenič happens to be called up, it is likely he will remain a backup option in the plans of Slovenia’s head coach Matjaž Kek.
Žan Vipotnik
Žan Vipotnik, a.k.a. the “Viper of Celje” (okay, I completely made that up but it sounds cool so I’m leaving it here) has been dazzling French fans with his goalscoring ways. Having arrived to Ligue 2’s Bordeaux last summer, Vipotnik has sparked les girondins with 10 goals and 4 assists in 36 league games.
Despite his good season in France, Vipotnik has been on the bench of the Serbian national team since November, even though he enjoyed eight caps earlier in 2023 that saw him score 2 goals in the European qualifiers. It is unclear whether we’ll see Vipotnik in the final call-up, but his decent output for Bordeaux should earn him a place in the Slovenian squad.
