England’s Chukwuemeka, Scarlett and extra

The eight-team Beneath-19 European Championship is into the knockout rounds, with France taking up Israel and England going through Italy within the semifinals on Tuesday.

However which gamers have stood out in the course of the group stage? And who has made a reputation for themselves? Our resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen takes a take a look at among the finest younger expertise from the event in Slovakia.

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Age: 19
Place: Ahead
Membership: Rennes

Having already made a mark as a high-scoring ahead within the Rennes academy after which as an occasional impression substitute for the primary staff, the Chad-born winger was excellent — alongside along with his fellow two forwards Alan Virginius and Ange-Yoan Bonny — within the 5-Zero win towards Slovakia. Together with his direct working, dribbling and skill to beat an opponent, the left-footed winger scored a purpose and arrange two as France cruised to an enormous opening victory. Courtesy of his first-class off-the-ball working, the energetic 19-year-old additionally added a purpose towards Romania and two within the win over Italy to complete the group stage with 5 from three video games. A high prospect who could possibly be months away from a correct Ligue 1 breakthrough.

Age: 19
Place: Centre-back
Membership: Le Havre

One of the talked-about gamers forward of the event, the enormous defender has confronted little hassle within the group stage. Together with his 6-foot-7 body, the 19-year-old cuts a little bit of an odd determine for a centre-back, but regardless of his huge measurement, he has nice command of his physique, within reason agile and — maybe much more surprisingly — is each composed in possession (left-footed) and in a position to advance with the ball into midfield. Whereas Toure — who ended the season as a daily at Ligue 2 aspect Le Havre — tends to take care of no matter comes his method within the air, he is additionally combative and a very good tackler. He’s now being tracked by a number of high golf equipment in Europe.

Age: 19
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Speedy Vienna

Although Demir’s transient profession at Barcelona did not pan out — he featured in 9 aggressive video games for the Catalans earlier than his mortgage was cancelled and he returned to Speedy Vienna in January — the left-footed playmaker has made a mark for Austria all through the event, regardless of the staff not functioning notably nicely. Often left to hold an excessive amount of accountability on his younger shoulders, Demir has nonetheless showcased his beautiful turns, creativity, sensible shut management and intelligent soccer mind, notably when enjoying neat triangles and combos within the final third. He additionally confirmed quite a lot of persona as he stored grafting towards a completely dominant England aspect within the 2-Zero defeat.

Age: 18
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Gloukh was already on the radar of many scouts, having impressed at membership stage and stood out within the qualifying rounds of the Euros, however few anticipated that the Israeli would make such an impression. A mature, clever and technically sensible attacking midfielder — half No. 8, half No. 10, or artistic winger — he has gained many admirers along with his performances and speak of a €10m transfer this summer season is gathering tempo. Arduous to dispossess when working at opponents, Gloukh is a superb dribbler, who all the time appears to choose up the ball in essentially the most beneficial positions and is ready to slide teammates by means of with completely weighted passes. His beautiful contact to arrange the 2-1 purpose towards Austria was nothing in need of chic and he has been unplayable at occasions, with an instinct and aptitude within the ultimate third hardly ever seen from one so younger.

Age: 18
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Aston Villa

Closely tipped to be one of many star performers previous to the event, the Aston Villa midfielder — who featured in 12 Premier League video games final season — has not let down these early predictions. Chukwuemeka has been in astounding type and has sometimes made it seem as if he has surpassed the extent of U19 stage soccer now (as illustrated by the assured method wherein he took his purpose towards Serbia.) Not solely is the box-to-box midfielder athletic, with the vitality to enterprise up and down the pitch throughout the sport, however he is additionally so elegant, clean on the ball and technically adept to go along with it.

One scout current on the event informed me: “It is troublesome to think about a extra ultimate No. Eight for the fashionable recreation; he assaults, he creates, he defends. His mentality is clearly high notch too. He is destined to change into a high participant.”

Age: 18
Place: Ahead
Membership: Tottenham Hotspur

One of many key members of England’s U19 aspect throughout qualification, the Spurs striker has reproduced his type from the sooner rounds in Slovakia. The spearhead of the assault for a formidable England technology — although his teammate Alfie Devine and Chelsea‘s Harvey Vale additionally deserve a point out — Scarlett caught the attention with two opportunistic objectives within the 4-Zero win towards Serbia. He is extra than simply objectives, although, as he has been a relentless thorn within the aspect of the opposition because of his relentless motion and sensible, razor-sharp runs in behind the defence. Moreover, regardless of enjoying solely a handful of video games for the Tottenham first staff, Scarlett has demonstrated that he is a centre-forward who continues to work on his recreation and his improvement potential is excessive. Certainly, his Premier League breakthrough could also be imminent.

Age: 19
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Inter Milan

A dynamic No. Eight who has been a mainstay within the Italy aspect all through the entire U19 marketing campaign. Whereas not being essentially the most spectacular of prospects, Casadei is extraordinarily environment friendly in what he does: He presses with conviction, wins the ball by means of wonderful positioning and covers huge areas in midfield. In possession, he is environment friendly and sensible, avoids pointless touches, and focuses on letting the sport circulate. Casadei can be constructive in his passing, all the time seems to be for attacking choices, and is ready to break the defensive traces with swift and correct passes, or by making progressive runs into house. The bodily imposing midfielder additionally options neat shut management and controls the ball nicely in tight areas.

Age: 19
Place: Ahead
Membership: Crimson Star Belgrade

Born in Germany, Motika is now representing Serbia after he appeared for his delivery nation at U16 stage. Having impressed within the Bayern Munich youth staff, after leaving Hertha Berlin in 2017, he was snapped up by Crimson Star Belgrade for €3m in January, although the German giants have an choice to re-sign him. Typically enjoying from the left-side, Motika likes to run at opponents with spectacular velocity and fast ft, earlier than reducing in and unleashing vicious photographs — there’s even a contact of Arjen Robben about his recreation. He is additionally been engaged on his physique to compete on the extra bodily aspect of the sport. — David Cartlidge