Players to Watch at Euro 2024

UEFA Euro 2024 is starting today in Germany, with the opening game seeing the hosts take on Scotland.

While our daily coverage will focus on the performances of Premier League players, today we will have a look at one player to watch for each team at Euro 2024.

First of all, here are the groups for the tournament.

So without further ado, who do we feel is worth keeping a close eye on?

Group A

Germany – Florian Wirtz

An ACL injury deprived the Leverkusen playmaker, who is still just 21, from competing at the last World Cup.

After winning the MVP in a season in which he led his club to an unbeaten domestic double, he’s now ready to take Europe by storm on home soil. He’s already made history for his country this year too, his strike against France after 8 seconds clocking in as the fastest Germany goal ever.

Scotland – Scott McTominay

With 7 goals in qualifying, only Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane netted more than the Manchester United midfielder who has become his side’s key man, a cult hero to the Tartan Army and earned the affectionate nickname ‘McSauce’.

Hungary – Milos Kerkez

Of course, everyone is aware of star man Dominik Szoboszlai but at the back, the 20-year-old Bournemouth defender has settled into Premier League life seamlessly and he’s one of the most exciting full-backs in the game going forward, while also offering an underrated defensive solidity.

Switzerland – Manuel Akanji

Fresh from another title victory at Manchester City, the Swiss star also made more ball recoveries over the course of qualification than any other player and also comfortably completed more passes than anyone else too, shining at the heart of defence.

Group B

Spain – Lamine Yamal

Let’s take a look at the records set by the Barcelona phenom. Youngest LaLiga player and scorer ever? Check. Youngest Champions League starter? Check. Youngest Spain international and scorer ever? Check. Youngest European Championship appearance maker ever? Pending.

Still just 16, he already has 2 goals for his country and is almost certain to add to that tally in Germany.

Croatia – Luka Sučić

While everyone else will be focused on the last big moments of Luka Modrić’s international career, keep an eye out for the Salzburg midfielder and any opportunities that may come his way.

Extremely highly-regarded in his homeland, he’s coming off an exceptional individual campaign, he looks back to his best after undergoing a knee operation a year ago.

Italy – Alessandro Bastoni

Stalwarts of the last tournament Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have now retired. Giorgio Scalvini and Francesco Acerbi will miss the tournament through injury.

The onus is very much on the Inter centre-back to step up as the leader of the defence and cement his reputation as the next great Italian defender.

Albania – Jasir Asani

Born in Macedonia and playing his club football in South Korea, the 27-year-old was handed his first cap by coach Sylvinho last year and has enjoyed a honeymoon spell to start his international career, scoring 3 and assisting 3 in 8 qualifying games – and has shown he has an eye for the spectacular on several occasions.

Group C

Slovenia – Benjamin Šeško

There is only one man the world will be watching in the Slovenian side this summer.

Star forward Šeśko, who scored 18 times for RB Leipzig last season and already has 11 goals for his country at 21, was being closely followed by Arsenal, Chelsea, Milan and more. However, speculation has been effectively ended by him signing a new contract with the German outfit.

Denmark – Mikkel Damsgaard

Coach Kasper Hjulmand has come in for criticism for overlooking form players in favour of familiar faces who aren’t exactly on song. In the playmaking stakes, the pressure is on Mikkel Damsgaard to perform, particularly off the back of a year in which he managed two assists and no goals – and when he was selected at the expense of Matt O’Riley and Nicolai Vallys, who both enjoyed stellar seasons.

Serbia – Dušan Tadić

When the 35-year-old won his record 106th cap in March, it took him into uncharted territory for a Serbian senior international. He will look to add a few more caps and perhaps even ride off into the sunset with one last tournament appearance but make no mistake, he is still capable of a big impact – as his 16 goals and 16 assists for Fenerbahçe last season prove.

England – Cole Palmer

There are some star names ahead of him in the England pecking order as things stand, but he’s already off the mark for his country (in trademark ice-cool penalty fashion no less) and whether it be off the bench or from the start, he’s certainly earned opportunities at his first major tournament.

Group D

Poland – Piotr Zieliński

By his own admission, it has been a “strange” season for the midfielder, who agreed to join Inter on a free transfer and then found himself largely frozen out by Napoli as a result. It means he isn’t exactly coming into the competition in peak condition, having completed 90 minutes just twice this calendar year. How costly could any rustiness be?

Netherlands – Jeremie Frimpong

The Bayer Leverkusen flying machine looks like he may be the only major name to depart Die Werkself this summer after their phenomenal season. Continued star showings for his country could bump the German champions’ asking price up ever further.

Austria – Christoph Baumgartner

One of the more unheralded members of the Leipzig side who perhaps doesn’t get the praise he deserves, his excellent scoring record for his country is proof of the damage he can do from midfield if given time and space to weave his magic.

France – N’Golo Kanté

After a 2-year absence from the international set-up following his move to Saudi Arabia, the former Chelsea man is finally back and fit again. If Aurélien Tchouaméni isn’t fit enough, Didier Deschamps will count on him. But will he possess the dynamism of old?

Group E

Belgium – Johan Bakayoko

The new generation of Belgian stars is here and it is spearheaded by the PSV ace. Fans pining after the now retired Eden Hazard may not be doing so for long if he can carry his club form over to the international stage this summer.

Slovakia – Ondrej Duda

Where the Verona midfielder goes, action follows. Of players competing at Euro 2024, nobody committed more fouls in qualifying than Duda, while only Dominik Szoboszlai was fouled more. He’s always at the centre of it.

Romania – George Pușcaș

The striker already has previous for tearing up a European Championship. In 2018, at the U21 edition, he netted 7 times in qualifying and 4 times at the tournament to become Romania’s record scorer at that level and fire them to a semi-final finish. Now 28, he hasn’t quite fulfilled that early potential, but could this be the summer he does so at another Euros?

Ukraine – Georgiy Sudakov

The brightest young talent in Ukrainian football, the Shakhtar playmaker is already one of the first names on the team sheet for his country at the age of 21. He is expected to follow Mykhailo Mudryk out of Donetsk to seal a move to a top European side sooner rather than later.

Group F

Türkiye – Ferdi Kadıoğlu

A two-footed attacking full-back, it is little surprise to see the Fenerbahçe star being touted for a step up to the next level. Expect him to show why that is the case with more standout displays for Vincenzo Montella’s men in front of a fervent and massive fan base.

Georgia – Giorgi Mamardashvili

Sure, we could go with Napoli’s ‘Kvaradona’, but Valencia star Mamardashvili is coming off the back of a campaign in which he won LaLiga’s Goalkeeper of the Season award. The xG against him was 43.7 but he conceded just 34 for 9.7 goals prevented, saving a joint-high 3 penalties and breaking his own record for clean sheets (13).

Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo

When Cristiano Ronaldo is at a tournament are eyes ever going to be on anyone else? All the more so when you consider it may be his last dance for his country, although don’t rule him out of making himself available for the 2026 World Cup.

Czechia – Patrik Schick

There’s no doubt that the last Euros belonged to the Czech striker. Tied for most goals in 2021 and scorer of the Goal of the Tournament for his outrageous long range strike in Glasgow, he may not have had the most successful individual season at Leverkusen but still popped up with enough regularity to preserve their unbeaten run and keep himself sharp for another big summer.