Euro 2012 - Top 5 Young Players.

Euro 2012
Young players to watch:

With Europe’s best teams on show in Poland & Ukraine, here’s a rundown of the top 5 young players (Under 23) featuring in this years European Championships.

1) Ivan Perisic - Age 23, Croatia
The chances of Perisic featuring in more than 3 games this summer are slim but don’t miss a chance to watch this young midfielder take on Europe’s best. Top scorer in Belgium’s Pro League for Club Brugge and later signed in 2011 by German champions Borussia Dortmund, Perisic has enjoyed a flying start to life in the Bundesliga notching up 9 goals in 40 appearances this season. One only needs to watch the wonderful volley he scored against Arsenal in this years Champions League to see what the fuss is about. Often used from the bench by Croatian coach Slaven Bilic in qualifying, when called upon he has delivered the goods. A jewel in an ageing Croatian side, expect big things in ’Polkraine’ and the future from this talented left footer.

2) Yann M’vila - Age 21, France
Despite being the tender age of 21, M’vila has notched up 18 caps for his national team displaying performances which have seen him likened to the great Patrick Viera. Strong, level headed and an unforgiving tackler, Yann has progressed to become one of Europe’s hottest young prospects. With a phenomenal ability to read and direct play aswell as create chances for Ribery, Benzema & Co, England will have to be on their toes when the two sides meet in Group D. As you would imagine, Arsene Wenger is a keen admirer and expect a good performance at Euro 2012 to seal his move from French side Rennes to one of Europe’s elite.

3) Alan Dzagoev - Age 21, CSKA Moscow
Since winning the Russian Young Player of the Year award in 2008-09, Dzagoev has developed into one of the best and most sought after playmakers in European football. Despite only scoring 6 goals in 48 appearances over the course of the 2011-12 season for CSKA, Dzagoev has been the top scorer in Russia’s successful qualifying campaign. A deadly link between midfield and attack, expect Dzagoev to dazzle should Russia advance from Group A as widely expected.

4) Cristian Eriksen - Age 21, Ajax
No top young player list would be complete without Ajax’s phenomenally talented starlet Cristian Eriksen. Blessed with an extraordinary ability to read the game of football and a radar-like passing ability, the hopes of Denmark’s campaign rest solely on this 21 year olds shoulders. A sure starter for Denmark, Eriksen is likely to be played just behind Sunderland striker Nikolas Bendtner with two wingers supporting him in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Probably the pick of the bunch in this article, do not miss a minute this lad plays in, he really is that good.

5) Mario Gotze - Age 19, Germany
To not include a German player in this list would be, quite frankly ridiculous such is the array of talent they have to offer. Gotze beat a group of 6 top class German youngsters to make the final cut and its not surprising to see why. The 19 year old star of Borussia Dortmund’s league and cup double winning side has taken the world by storm over the past 18 months taking home the award for European U-21 player of the year in the process. Not only a goal scorer, 7 in an injury hit season for Dortmund, Gotze possesses a messi-like dribbling talent which strikes fear into even the most experienced European defenders.  Despite not being expected to gain a starting berth such is the strength of the German national team, expect Gotze to play a regular subsitiute role throughout the campaign, a chance he will not slip him by. Remember the name.

Honourable mentions:
Andre Schuurle, Germany
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, England
James McClean, Republic of Ireland
Kevin Strootman, Netherlands
Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Greece

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