Euro 2008 - Young Players to Watch

June 4, 2008

As all the excitement and joy of the occasion will keep us glued to our seats through the duration of the competition, it will also be of interest as to how the players of various hype perform on the international stage. We have so often found that those we suspected would convert their supposed club level dominance into success for their country- in fact didn’t. On the international stage, there are always those players who do quite the opposite, and surpass all expectations- putting on brilliant performances, and helping the team to honours. These performances so often provide the launchpad for their career, and springboarding themselves into greater glory. If there was ever an occasion in which these players had a chance to showcase their talents then this is it. I have compiled a short list of players which i urge you to look out for, if they even need that amount of viewing for their talents to be seen.

David Odonkor- Germany and Real Betis:
Often touted as the worlds fastest footballer, David Odonkor always provides that bit of directness to any team’s game. He is certainly not frightened to run at the defenders, the only frightened party involved would be the defender. Possessing a blistering burst of pace able to break down even the most solid of defences, Germany have in their arsenal a weapon of serious mass destruction. With a somewhat disappointing season by his standards for Real Betis, he will be looking to make a strong impression on interested clubs around the world.

Bafetimbi Gomis- France and Saint Etienne:
If you happened to watch the France preperatory friendly against Ecuador, you would have witnessed two exquisite finishes from the man known as ‘the next Drogba’. This 45 minute period in which he was on the field gave us an insight into why so many clubs around the world seem to be linked to him. The French league’s 3rd top goalscorer is extremely powerful in the air, whilst excelling on the ground also with his close control and the ability to turn defenders with ease. Although very much down in the pecking order behind the likes of Henry, Benzema, and Anelka for this position, he should get his chance, and provide the french manager with a useful resource.

Ivan Rakitic- Croatia and Shalke 04:
This incredibly talented youngster for Croatia looks set to take the world by storm. Plying his trade in Germany for Shalke 04, he has won over many admirers for his fantastic skill and ball control. He occupies the midfield in a very attack-minded way, always willing to try and weave his way around defenders, whilst also having the ability to thread a perfect through ball for the attacker to finish with ease. He usually has a lot to do with any goals scored, and is a tremendous asset for any club. Croatia will be glad to be able to call upon such a talented youngster like Rakitic, giving him the opportunity to work his magic on the international front.

Lukas Fabianski- Poland and Arsenal
Blessed with a superb ability to react and move towards certain goalbound balls, Fabianski has every chance of overtaking Artur Boruc for that number one spot. Keeping a clean sheet in a recent friendly, the Poland manager will almost certainly be considering giving this youngster his chance to shine. If Poland are to achieve much success in these Euro’s, it will largely be down to the plight of the goalkeeper to ensure more goals are being scored than conceded, Lukas Fabianski certainly has the ability to do so.

Tranquillo Barnetta- Switzerland and Leverkusen
Another promising youngster, Tranquillo is certainly blessed with tremendous dribbling ability. Operating mainly down on the left side of midfield, he provides much creativity and ingenuity to unlock defences. The cohosts will certainly look to Tranquillo when placed against a seemingly impenetrable backline. Whenever Switzerland score a goal, it will be a safe bet that Barnetta would be the architect. Euro 2008 provides this youngster with a huge opportunity to appeal to bigger european clubs, and will certainly steer his career into the upward spiral of success.

Johan Elmander- Sweden and Toulouse
A rising star in Sweden, Elmander has enjoyed rapid success for his country. Scoring for fun in the qualifiers, he possesses a brilliant mind in knowing when and where to make runs. Elmander finishes with ease, and can always be relied upon to get his team into the driver’s seat. It is the general feeling in Sweden that the Elmander-Ibrahimovic partnership is a deadly force to be reckoned with. The fortunes of Sweden will definitely be influenced by this explosive attacker. With Toulouse’s ambitions disappearing down the toilet, it is up to Elmander to showcase his ability and move on to bigger and better things.

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