Euro 2024 is well under way, and while there is a host of superstars hoping to guide their nations to glory, here we’ve rounded up 10 players to keep an eye on and highlighted the boots they’re wearing.
One of the great things about an international tournament is getting to see players that you may not have heard of or had the chance to watch too closely. Pulling on your best ‘scout’ hat for your club, it’s the chance to run the rule over some emerging talent.
In the following list, you’re not going to find the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Kylian Mbappe – we all know what they’re about and there’s no real news in highlighting them. Instead, we’re looking at some younger or alternative players who, given the chance, could well light up the tournament this summer (our tip for player of the tournament is Florian Wirtz, but he’s another you won’t find on this list). No, this is for talents who might be a little more outside of the mainstream – those you’re looking to bolster your fantasy squad with to free up the cash for your Bellinghams and Mbappes.
Kenan Yildiz (Turkey) adidas F50
Nineteen-year-old Kenan Yildiz was hugely influential for Juventus when brought into the side this season, helping the otherwise defensive-minded Serie A side score more than they otherwise might have. Euro 2024 will be a homecoming of sorts for the striker, who was born in Regensburg, Germany to a Turkish father and a German mother. He’ll be hoping to catch attention in the adidas F50 ‘Advancement Pack’.
Eberechi Eze (England) New Balance Furon v7+
OK, so at 25 Eze doesn’t quite fit into the “up-and-coming” category, but we feel like there could be room for the Palace man to shine. Coming into the England senior setup for a first international tournament ahead of the likes of Grealish and Maddison, Eze offers something different to the other attackers in the squad, being quite direct and pacy. If England are ever struggling to break a team down, or are chasing a goal, then Southgate has a very nice plan B in Eze. Wearing the New Balance Furon v7+, he’ll be hoping he gets the opportunity to shine.
Joao Neves (Portugal) Nike Phantom GX 2
Every good team needs a player like this in midfield, and Joao Neves is Europe's next big star in that role. At 19, Neves boasts huge technical ability, and is able to carry the ball out of defence confidently. Although technically a defensive midfielder on paper, he's capable of being a deep-lying playmaker, with a lot of the game going through him this season at Benfica. A good tournament could see a host of suitors come knocking. Neves currently wears the Nike Phantom GX 2 from the 'Mad Brilliance' pack.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands) PUMA King Ultimate
Xavi Simons is a name you’re likely more familiar with than most on this list, given it feels like he’s been around for a while, and yet he’s still only 21. The versatile attacker has excelled on loan at RB Leipzig from PSG this season. A product of Barcelona’s La Masia Academy, he’s a tricky player to stop – he was the most fouled player in the Bundesliga this season, but there’s product at the end as well – he finished joint second for assists in the German top flight. If the Netherlands play to his strengths, this could well be his tournament. Simons will be in the PUMA King Ultimate from the ‘Forever Faster’ pack.
Warren Zaire-Emery (France) Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9
Zaire-Emery was one of Paris St-Germain’s stand-out performers this season as they won the French double. His performances earned him both the UNFP Young Player of the Year Award (the French equivalent of PFA Young Player of the Year) and a new contract until 2029. The main obstacle for the 18 year old will be how much game time he sees, with a wealth of attacking talent ahead of him in the French ranks. He wears the Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 from the 'Mad Brilliance' pack, playing into his attacking talents.
Nico Williams (Spain) Nike Mercurial Vapor 15
The obvious choice from the Spain camp would've been someone like Pedri or Lamine Yamal, but, as we've stated, this is looking for those alternative talents. Not to be confused with the Welsh fullback of similar name, Nico Williams is certainly one that fits into the exciting attacking talent bracket. He's a modern winger in that he likes to play from the left and cut in onto his right, and that along with his blinding pace renders him as a major threat. With his pace in mind, it's no surprise to see him in the Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15 from the 'Mad Brilliance' pack.
Johan Bakayoko (Belgium) PUMA Future 7
The 21 year old has excelled in PSV’s title-winning campaign this season, providing 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. He plays from the right, opting to cut in onto his stronger left foot, potentially offering a nice balance to Doku on the left. His boot of choice is the PUMA Future 7, which he interestingly opts to remove the laces from. Few pros making those moves.
Jamal Musiala (Germany) Nike Tiempo Legend X
Yeah, OK, so Jamal Musiala is one you've all probably heard of already, given that he's been smashing it for Bayern Munich and Germany for a while now (this will be his third international tournament). But his inclusion gives us the chance to feature the Nike Tiempo Legend X from the 'Mad Brilliance' pack, so... While we're still backing Wirtz to be the ultimate star of the tournament, don't count out Musiala – this guy is dangerous. He actually grew up in London and represented England up to under-21 level, but opted to represent Germany.
Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands) PUMA Ultra Ultimate
Frimpong is another player who’s enjoyed a brilliant season with German double-winners Bayer Leverkusen, netting 14 goals and being named in the Bundesliga team of the season for the second year running. He can play at right wing-back and right-back, and was used on the right wing by Ronald Koeman to great effect in the Netherlands' pre-tournament friendly against Canada, in which he bagged a goal and an assist. Like Xavi Simons in the King Ultimate, Frimpong will combine the orange hues of the PUMA Ultra Ultimate from the ‘Forever Faster’ pack with his national team colours. Almost like PUMA planned it…
Morten Hjulmand (Denmark) adidas COPA Pure 2
Every team needs a good decent destroyer to break up play and allow the attacking players the freedom to get forward and do what they do, and 25-year-old Hjulmand has been doing just that for Ruben Amorim's Portuguese league title-winning team this season. He will be wearing the adidas COPA Pure 2 from the ‘Advancement Pack’.
Billy Gimour (Scotland) adidas Predator 24 FT
Those of you with an understanding of base level mathematics will have realised that we've hit our 10, and you'd be right. So Billy Gilmour in the adidas predator 24 with the fold-over tongue represents a bonus extra. If Scotland are going to progress from the group stages, then they’re going to need every player in the team to perform above and beyond. Gilmour has shown he can do it in the past – memorably when he put in a man-of-the-match display for Chelsea in the FA Cup against Liverpool back in 2020. Proves he has the ability, so maybe now's the time to bring that to the international table.
