Euro 2024 is right around the corner, so bwin looks at the seven players that fans need to be keeping an eye out for during this summer’s tournament.
We’ll cover some established names, as well as some lesser known ones, with the common theme being that they’ll also be the ones to watch out for when watching their respective nations play at Euro 2024.
bwin’s seven players to look out for at Euro 2024
Lamine Yamal – Spain & Barcelona
We kick things off with Yamal, who is starring in his first major international tournament after a breakout season for his club side, Barcelona.
Yama has earned comparisons to Lionel Messi at this stage of his career, so the feeling clearly is that the right-winger is going right to the very top of world football, and he could be set to announce himself as a major player for years to come during this summer’s tournament.
Spain’s squad isn’t what it once was, with Rodri being the only real superstar representing the nation at this summer’s tournament, so expect Yamal to be given the nod from the off, potentially dragging his country to the latter stages of the tournament, which they’re 8/1 to win come mid-July.
Koibbee Mainoo – England & Man United
The lack of depth for England in midfield means Mainoo, who many non-Man United supporting fans won’t have known existed this team last year, may be starring for the Three Lions at Euro 2024.
Many feel as if Mainoo’s performances for United towards the end of the season, which included a goal in his club’s FA Cup final win, means he’s earned a spot in England’s starting line-up, alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
Mainoo has shone for Man United in midfield, despite the struggles that Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat have faced this campaign, so pundits are quite excited to see how well he can perform with better quality and more in-form players surrounding him.
Only time will tell, but with England the sole favourites to win Euro 2024, this summer’s tournament could be a major one for Mainoo.
Kai Havertz – Germany & Arsenal
Many fans questioned Mikel Arteta’s talent ID when he and Arsenal paid over £60m to bring Havertz to the Emirates, but come the end of the 2023/24 season, that decision seems to have been warranted.
Havertz has displaced Gabriel Jesus from the Arsenal starting XI as the number nine, and he’s expected to continue in that role for Euro 2024, despite being trialled as a left-wing back during a recent international break.
Germany are the home team heading into the tournament, and with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala feeding balls into the in-form Havertz, we could see the former Chelsea man really establish himself as one of the world’s best strikers.
Pau Cubarsi – Spain & Barcelona
We kicked off this list looking at one young Barcelona player who will be hoping to play a huge role for Spain at Euro 2024 in Yamal, and now we cover another in the form of Cubarsi.
The difference between Yamal and Cubarsi is that the latter was known to football fans across the world prior to this tournament, but Cubarsi really came out of nowhere to establish himself as a key man in Barcelona’s defence, playing in both La Liga and the Champions League.
It’s rare for a young defender to have the composure and calmness that Cubarsi possesses, and with Pau Torres missing out on the Spain squad and Rodri set to play in midfield rather than defence as he did at the World Cup in 2022, a spot may open up for the Barcelona man to play a key role for his country.
Ben Doak – Scotland and Liverpool
Ben Doak is an exciting young winger plying his trade for Liverpool in the Premier League. The Scotsman would have played more for his club this season had he not suffered a knee injury around mid-way through, but he’s recovered in time to feature in his country’s 28-man provisional squad for Euro 2024.
Doak hasn’t featured for his country just yet, so many think he could be one of the two players who is cut before the tournament starts, but the winger is exactly the kind of explosive player you need in knockout football, so we’re suggesting he should make the cut.
Doak is a throwback to the old fashioned wingers you used to see. He likes to beat his man down the line and deliver a ball into the box, which suits the way Scotland play, and he could show everyone this tournament why Liverpool fans are so excited about the future of the Scotsman at their club.
Antonio Silva – Portugal & Benfica
Benfica fans will already know all about Antonio Silva, but Euro 2024 could be when those across the globe find out just how talented the young defender is.
Linked with the likes of Man United, Real Madrid and Liverpool, Silva is expected to start for Portugal this summer alongside Ruben Dias, showing why despite being 20 years of age, he’s already showing signs of being a world class centre-half.
As we noted for Cubarsi, it’s rare for defenders to break out at such a young age, but Silva possesses composure and calmness beyond his years, and with well over 50 league appearances for Benfica to his name already, the Portuguese international has enough experience to not get flustered on the international stage.
Portugal are a ‘dark horse’ pick for many fans at Euro 2024 with odds of 8/1, and if they do go far, expect the world to be talking about the performances of Silva.
Warren Zaïre-Emery – France & PSG
We finish this list with Zaïre-Emery, who is being tipped by many fans across the world to be one of the best midfielders in the world by the time he reaches his peak.
But we’re such big fans of him here at bwin that we’re predicting the PSG midfielder to start for his country at Euro 2024, showing those who aren’t as familiar with him why he’s rated so highly by fans and pundits alike.
Zaïre-Emery should take the midfield spot that is usually occupied by Adrien Rabiot for this summer’s tournament, allowing France to potentially go all the way and win their first Euros since 2000.
Make sure you check out our comprehensive Euro 2024 guide, with all the information fans NEED to be aware of ahead of this summer’s major tournament, as well as our in-depth predicted bracket, with our writer going for a final between France and Portugal.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.Categories
